To think I’ll close this WhatsApp group

[Flowersgardening]

I’m admin for a WhatsApp group- only about 5 or 6 members. All old friends.
Now and again I put on about an event I’m going to and say - if anyone wants to join me?
Thinking of closing down the group- I’ll just put something lighthearted- along the lines of if we want to meet we can go back to texting or old style WhatsApp messages.
Just find it quite ignorant when no one responds. Even a ‘no I can’t’ would be appreciated but it makes you feel silly if you put something up and no one answers.
Of course they don’t have to, but if it was me I would.
110% sure no problem with the friendships as we are all old friends who get on very well.
My guess would be a couple in the group have split up but that’s only a guess and still wouldn’t stop them replying.
I don’t put an event on overly often so just find it a little rude to just have silence.
Think I’ll close it down soon but keep the message lighthearted as above.
What do you think? Thanks!

I wouldn’t bother announcing my departure, just delete it if you’re bothered by it. The group is not used for anything so why would anyone care?

I don't think you need to announce it. I'm in several WA groups that just fizzled out. No dramatics - people just stopped using them.

You don't have to make an announcement, no matter how lighthearted, just don't use it.

I'd just leave it if its been a year of no one responding

Does anyone else ever say anything at all? Have you looked to see if messages are marked as being read? Others might have archived the group and not be seeing the messages.
What are you hoping to achieve by putting a message about leaving the group?

To be fair, it’s not been a year or anything since folk responded but I do find it rude/ hurtful when folk respond with silence if you put something on as above.
Only reason I was going to do an announcement was so that I didn’t look petty…..

Doing an ‘announcement’ looks more petty honestly.

The announcement looks incredibly petty

I think making an announcement, no matter how breezy will look petty.
Just don't use the group and communicate in other ways if that's what everyone else seems to be doing.

I hadn’t thought of it that way- thought it would be awkward when we do meet up at some point if I didn’t say anything before closing the group….

I agree with PPs that the announcement is more petty than just not using it. Mute and archive it and just text the people you want to talk to.

You don't need to "close" it formally. I have been in loads of groups that have stopped being used. They just sit there and at some point I leave them.

I wouldn't delete it if there's been activity in the last year. Maybe others in the group appreciate having the group there even if not everyone replies. It's too easy to lose touch with friends and feel isolated as we get older. Why not just leave it alone, or mute notifications?

But why do you need to close the group at all? Just stop using it. No awkwardness needed.

I found one the other day that was for a friend's weekend away in 2022 no one has used it since I just left, I don't think people really make an announcement and close WhatsApp groups unless it's to make a statement

Don't close the group. Just don't use it. It will move down your list of WhatsApp groups and you will barely notice it soon enough.

Just don’t post on it. No need to close it.

Just let it quietly die and drift to the bottom of peoples old WhatsApp chats.
It can always be revived by you or someone else in the future and bounce to the top again.
No need for a flounce announcement.

The more I go through life, the more I realise that some grown adult people can't respond to simple messages on WhatsApp. It's pathetic. No one's life is that busy.

Close the group to make a point to those that notice. Don't send a message beforehand say you're doing it.

Why close the group? Actively doing that seems quite passive aggressive. Just stop using it and message people separately if you want to.
I have umpteen groups that haven't been used for years but I can't be bothered to actually leave them as they're not being used so they just sit there in the background

I don’t belong to any whatsapp groups so don’t know how it works but I think people are really bombarded with a lot of stuff online—emails, texts, even phone calls-that all need to be screened out or dealt with. I definitely have respinse fatigue. I am part of a group text right now about an ill friend. The others seem to have the energy to socialize on that text but I really don’t. I confine mtself to thumbs up just to show i have read the updates. In reality i have a separate line of communication with my friend so don’t need to participate.

my point is that if the friendships are ongoing I wouldn’t read into the whatsapp situation a coded insult. In any group there are going to be periods of more or less engagement.

Why close the group? Just let it fizzle out. Closing it is petty yes. You don’t need to do anything

Why close the group? Actively doing that seems quite passive aggressive. Just stop using it and message people separately if you want to.

Exactly. I think OP wants her friends to notice that she’s closed the group.

Just don't say anything, just archive it and move on with your life. Honestly. It's for the best.

Closing it may cause ill feeling, which there's no need for.

You've clearly learned that these people aren't interested in the events you're posting - so just stop. If you think a specific friend would be interested in something, send it to them specifically.

People aren't being "rude" by not replying. They probably just think it doesn't apply to them as they're not interested, or they would assume that you're sending the message to lots of people and don't expect a reply.

Don't close the group or make an announcement. Just let it die and start sending separate private messages as necessary. I've got all kinds of groups like that on my phone - started by me or by others - where the general tumbleweed vibe means eventually someone starts something completely different with a different membership.