Do you delete WhatsApp group chats after leaving them or keep them?

[Laura2121]

Hey all
When you leave a WhatsApp group chat, for example if you’re moving to a new town and exiting a group chat that’s no longer relevant to you, do you tend to delete the chat from your phone altogether or do you keep it?

WhatsApp deletes it for you doesn't it?

Nope, it gives you the option. I still have chats on my phone from old groups that I had left without deleting the chat, cutting off at the point that I left ofcourse

I've not deleted but right now I am wondering why.

I know right! Surely it takes up extra space/ memory on your phone to keep big chats on there that you’re no longer part of?

Why on earth would I keep them? Old chat groups are usually from previous jobs or volunteering posts....once I've gone, I don't want them cluttering up my phone. Leave, delete.

Not just on your phone, in the environment. The world’s resources are being used storing that message.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/31/concerned-about-your-data-use-here-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-an-average-day-of-emails-whatsapps-and-more

For those that leave a group chat and keep the chat on your phone, what reasons do you keep it for?

I haven't deleted, but only becuase I haven't deleted, not though any feeling of wanting to keep it. TBH until just now, I'm not sure that it's ever crossed my mind.

Because I’ve forgot, I probably should go and have a look and delete them!

Haha, I’m someone that keeps mine too but for little reason! I do get attached to people and things easily so I often don’t like deleting things but that’s just me 😝

I like to keep it, it doesn't have much impact on memory and you never know when you might want to double check some info on it. I tend to not leave groups anyway even if it's not relevant, I like to quietly lurk in them so I can get local gossip, and just keep it muted. I'm still on a nursery Whatsapp for my dd who is now 8!

I only keep them if they’re particularly funny or have photos in

instant delete.

Even if you and everyone else in the chat delete the chat, it's not getting removed from Whatsapps servers. It'll sit there until some arbitrary future point in time when Whatsapp will delete everything over a certain age.

All that happens when you "delete" it is that you stop being able to access it.

I never leave groups. I’m too nosey! 😂
If I’m removed (ie a work chat that’s no longer relevant) I archive but don’t delete. My son stopped playing football 3 years ago. I’ve still got all the chats in my archive and I’m still a member! 🤦‍♀️😂

I've kept 2 - they have some good memories in them, other ones I deleted the second I left

Oof, delete straightaway. Out of sight, out of mind. If I've left the group, then I don't need it. I've only just got the attention span needed for the groups I am in.

Delete

I delete things like birthday party groups once the party is over, or event organising groups from when I was on the PTA. I still have DS primary school class group even though he's now in Y10! 😂

I think a lot of people on that chat might be uneasy to realise somebody who’s no longer associated with the nursery is on there tbh. We had massive ructions at school because people who’d left the school had stayed in the chats, people were threatening legal action and all sorts.