Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do people actually enjoy constant WhatsApp group chats?

50 replies

StayceGerste · 30/12/2025 01:28

Between school, work, family and friends, I feel like I’m in about ten different WhatsApp groups and they never stop.
Some people seem to love the constant messaging, voice notes, inside jokes. I find it overwhelming and quietly mute most of them, which then makes me feel a bit antisocial.

OP posts:
StrikeForever · 30/12/2025 02:05

I am only in one, a group related to one of my hobbies. I’m astounded at the amount of activity. I find it a bit OTT. Worse still, I sometimes feel obliged to respond in order not to be ostracised 😳

Nickyknackered · 30/12/2025 02:21

I am in lots (30+) but honestly most are fairly quiet or just get chatty when needed. For example one is for a particular trip we take each year and its only busy around booking time and the actual trip time.

Others include our family group (we have teens) or work groups (i am a cm so I have one with each family).

I like what's app though and if I didnt want to hear from people, they wouldn't be my friends.

NuffSaidSam · 30/12/2025 02:23

Most of my group chats are pretty quiet, but I'm in a couple where we chat most days so there is a lot of traffic.

Buscobel · 30/12/2025 09:48

Constant pinging is annoying. I’ve resisted as much as possible.

TeaRoseTallulah · 30/12/2025 09:50

Buscobel · 30/12/2025 09:48

Constant pinging is annoying. I’ve resisted as much as possible.

Mute them?

I just ignore them if if don't want to join in,no biggy.

IllAdvised · 30/12/2025 09:53

Well, people do what suits them, surely? I have a family one for my parents and siblings, and one siblings-only one, one for DH, DS and me (but that’s things like ‘Buy firelighters’ and ‘What time is football training?’), and various different fruendship groups, but there’s certainly no constant messaging on any.

shhblackbag · 30/12/2025 09:54

I mute them and look when it suits me.

Redburnett · 30/12/2025 09:55

Such a relief that apparently you can low leave a Whatsapp group without it being announced on the group, though I have found the archive function useful.

landlordhell · 30/12/2025 09:55

Buscobel · 30/12/2025 09:48

Constant pinging is annoying. I’ve resisted as much as possible.

Silence it.

landlordhell · 30/12/2025 09:56

I am in one for my immediate family, one for each branch of the family and my work one. Mostly quiet but obviously occasional flurries when something going on. I have my phone on silent though so no pinging. I read when I want to.

IjustbelieveinMe · 30/12/2025 09:59

Redburnett · 30/12/2025 09:55

Such a relief that apparently you can low leave a Whatsapp group without it being announced on the group, though I have found the archive function useful.

I archive and go in occasionally when I see u read messages but I didn’t know it doesn’t announce if you leave?

Changingplace · 30/12/2025 17:37

shhblackbag · 30/12/2025 09:54

I mute them and look when it suits me.

Same, I have most muted or if I haven’t and a big chat starts and I’m busy/not in the mood etc I just mute it and catch up later.

Sometimes I’m the opposite and fancy a chat :) It’s easy enough to pop a chat on mute if you feel like it.

Changingplace · 30/12/2025 17:38

IjustbelieveinMe · 30/12/2025 09:59

I archive and go in occasionally when I see u read messages but I didn’t know it doesn’t announce if you leave?

Show quote history

Apparently it’s a new feature, I tend to archive too if it’s one I’m not that bothered about, so I’ve always got the option of dropping back in.

Itsmetheflamingo · 30/12/2025 17:38

Of course some people do! Some people like to chat.

RecordBreakers · 30/12/2025 18:24

Of course I do.
Or I'd leave them.

I've got loads on my phone.
Most are 'dormant' for long periods, then someone might ask something and there will be responses to that, then they go quiet again.

Or they are for specific events - so perhaps only come alive annually in the run up.

Others (eg family) are for banter and laughter as well as a few practical arrangements. Why wouldn't I enjoy chatting with people I love, that I can't see every day?

There's one I'm in (for a hobby) where there is a really annoying person who constantly messages, and each message seems to consist of about 4 or 5 messages rather than putting it on one, and she's quite annoying because it is rarely relevant to the group - so I've put that one on to silent, and just look at it once a week or so.

But the couple that are regularly 'live' are very enjoyable chats with the wider family, so yes, I enjoy them.

OhDear111 · 30/12/2025 18:29

We have a village one and it’s clear some people are a bit needy on it. It was set up to alert neighbours to our very narrow road being blocked, but it’s now about any car not starting or where to buy a certain plant from. It’s mostly chat. As I need to know if I can get out of the road, I leave it on but it’s tedious.

ResusciAnnie · 30/12/2025 18:52

I’ve got at least 20 active groups (hobbies, friends, family, school, nursery, local mums, a few for work etc etc) and then about 6-10 people I WhatsApp with weekly, maybe 2 of those I chat with daily. I enjoy it, and have zero problem exiting groups I don’t want to be in.

My problem is I cannot stand to see a notification and so I have to read/click on the message as soon as I see it. Same for archived chats. Mute doesn’t stop the notification (the number next to the chat) and I haven’t found a way to do so. Mute nor archive to do job.

My read receipts are firmly off and I often wait to reply. But I can’t bring myself to be like my friends and have 100s of unreads!!

Hatty65 · 30/12/2025 19:05

I loathe this. I'm in one group that someone added me to, and I've had to mute it to save my brain. There are about 10 folks in it and EVERY day they are chipping in, 'Morning. What's everyone up to today?' and then there are a dozen responses.

I don't care what they are doing. I'm genuinely thinking about stopping the activity we do together because this stresses me so much. I can't cope with lots of different people simultaneously posting lots of different updates to their life - some of which have been along the lines of 'Awful day - had to have the dog put down' and 'James has been told his cancer is back'.

Because I mute it I catch up maybe days later and then realise that everyone else has been posting 'hugs' and 'love' and supportive messages and I've said fuck all. I have no idea about the social etiquette involved in this sort of thing - I'm over 60 and I just don't do this stuff well.

angelcake20 · 30/12/2025 19:14

I have most big groups muted but am still mystified by the inane chat that people think is appropriate for groups with 10s of people on them. Who has time to want to engage? The 30+ Happy Birthdays each time also drive me up the wall - just send the person a message.

ResusciAnnie · 30/12/2025 19:27

Hatty65 · 30/12/2025 19:05

I loathe this. I'm in one group that someone added me to, and I've had to mute it to save my brain. There are about 10 folks in it and EVERY day they are chipping in, 'Morning. What's everyone up to today?' and then there are a dozen responses.

I don't care what they are doing. I'm genuinely thinking about stopping the activity we do together because this stresses me so much. I can't cope with lots of different people simultaneously posting lots of different updates to their life - some of which have been along the lines of 'Awful day - had to have the dog put down' and 'James has been told his cancer is back'.

Because I mute it I catch up maybe days later and then realise that everyone else has been posting 'hugs' and 'love' and supportive messages and I've said fuck all. I have no idea about the social etiquette involved in this sort of thing - I'm over 60 and I just don't do this stuff well.

Just leave the group? If someone asks you why, just tell them. Many people in real life groups I’m in aren’t in the corresponding WhatsApp group, the world still spins and someone still fills them in on pertinent info, where to be when etc.

henlake7 · 30/12/2025 19:28

Im a member of one for work....Ive literally never been on it!
I demand people tell me all the gossip, complaints and updates in person when I actually get into work!

Randomchat · 30/12/2025 19:49

I do. They're mostly muted though so I only look at them when I want to. I couldn't be bothered with them alerting me all day.

JustFrustrated · 30/12/2025 22:26

I'm in loads. Had to check something in a conversation with my friend earlier and we had "13 in common groups". Then I've siblings/family/me and the kids and the ex/me and the kids/part 1/part 2 with colleagues and loads more

The ones I've mentioned are busy, every other day at least notifications. I enjoy it. I don't reply often in all of them, but it's nice to see people's updates.

EmbroideredGardener · 30/12/2025 22:30

Im in a fair few groups but theyre mostly quiet. Family one has chat mosty days but not constant. I was in one for a bookclub and I had to leave because between waking up and lunchtime there would be 70-100 messages on there. There was no way of keeping up with it, and so I ended up feeling on the periphery not knowing what the jokes and chats were about so I left. It's a shame because I miss the book chat, but I dont miss the rest of it. I used to wonder how they all got work done!

PermanentTemporary · 30/12/2025 22:32

God I’m in about 70 group chats! Love it. The only problem I have is that I tend to forget about friends who aren’t on WhatsApp which is shit of me.