Can we talk about Whatsapp groups!

[DinkeyDonkey]

I do not have this issue in real life. I have friends and seem to be able to make friends in social situations and at work. I rarely post on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms.

Like most people, I am in a few WhatsApp groups, mostly related to parenting and my children but they are friends rather than forced groups. I like a WhatsApp group but I sometimes feel so unpopular! I must admit o take next to zero interest in some groups and there are usually people that I gravitate towards more. However, there are a couple of groups I can think of, where I just feel like the weak. Am I boring? Do I have too many opinions? All of the above? None of the above and I am just being oversensitive (as I sometimes see that people post and no one responds at all) so it probably is not just me!

Then you have those who swan in every few days saying sorry they are SO busy and have no time to reply to anyone else but here is what is going on with me... and everyone replies! Another seeks to constantly brag or post photos of herself.

I am having a bad day so I think I am just reading too much into this!

😭

😂😂😂😂😂

I'm only in a few aswell.

One for family, school, old uni friends, cousins and my main friend group.

I get that. I'm nice on WhatsApp groups, acknowledge people's posts, but if i post randomly i usually get ignored.

I think it depends what the WhatsApp groups are for. I am in a couple of school parent ones - stuff like “Is there a French test on Wednesday?” and “Don’t forget to bring in a pound for armadillo day”.

I am in a street WhatsApp group - requests for the names of plumbers, does anyone have a bike pump and is this anyone’s car? Your window is open.

Apart from that I am in very small groups of friends’ WhatsApp groups.

If the school and street WhatsApp groups get too chatty then I often switch off. It’s hard to keep on top of lots of groups

Almost always ignored too! Doesn’t help that I can see that everyone has read it and not one person has replied!

Sorry if you have experienced this too but kind of glad some of you understand!

The main one I am thinking of is a group of other parents but more of a friendly chat group, there's another "official" one for school goings on questions, so this is just people keeping in touch, posting about their day, holidays, what to have for dinner...

I'm as awkward in WhatsApp groups as I am in real life.
I never seem to get it just right. Either end up being too shy and not posting at all or posting stuff which other people probably think is weird and then ignore.

I'm as awkward in WhatsApp groups as I am in real life.
I never seem to get it just right. Either end up being too shy and not posting at all or posting stuff which other people probably think is weird and then ignore.

I can totally relate to this unfortunately!

I do think it happens to other people too. Sometimes I notice someone else has posted something and I don't reply and other people don't either and wonder if it happens to all of us and whether it's dependent on the person on the post.

Ugh. I hate posting or replying on Whatsapp groups. I was very pleased when they introduced the 'reactions' feature, so I feel like I'm vaguely showing interest without actually having to engage properly!

Hey DinkeyDonkey,

I totally get where you’re coming from. WhatsApp groups can be a bit tricky to navigate, especially when you see others getting more engagement. It can feel like you're being overlooked, but I think it's often just a case of people getting busy or certain dynamics in the group.

I also think sometimes people don't realize they're being a bit self-centered when they only talk about themselves without engaging with others. It's not necessarily that they’re more popular, just more vocal about their lives. And yeah, there are always those who like to show off a bit!
On another note, I’d love to be part of some active and engaging groups. Being 7 months pregnant and at home with my kids, I could really use some more interaction and fun! If anyone’s in any lively groups and wouldn’t mind adding me, that would be amazing. 😊

Hang in there, and don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re definitely not alone in feeling this way.
Hugs,
Godslove

@OliveWah Is that because you don't like the people in the groups?

I am autistic which may be why I find it difficult to navigate the groups but I have learned how to deal with them better and avoid saying the wrong things!

I also think sometimes people don't realize they're being a bit self-centered when they only talk about themselves without engaging with others.

Very much this. There is someone in one of my smaller WhatsApps that I wonder why on earth I am friends with them - constantly talking about herself, rarely engaging with anyone else (my favourite was when she completely ignored my birthday directly after other people on the group had wished me a happy birthday and immediately launched into something about herself) and I think I have more photos of her and her children on my phone than of my own!

But, then we meet up in person and she is fine! I think she just goes broadcast only in on Whatsapp.

@DinkeyDonkey -no, it’s not because I don’t like the people! I think I just feel a bit pressured to respond in some way, so being able to use the reactions instead of typing out a reply makes it easier. At least people can see I’m engaged in the conversation and not ignoring them, but I don’t have to get involved unless it’s something I actually want to have some input on, if that makes sense?

Makes perfect sense @OliveWah

@drawnfrommemory I have my settings such that other peoples photos from WhatsApp groups don't save to my phone

I do think there's a bit of a lack of awareness when people are like that

@OliveWah

I like the "Reactions" too. For me apart from showing I'm engaged to some degree in the chat, also signals the polite end of a conversation on a 1:1 basis. 🌹