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!

Re the posts saying to archive it- out of interest, I had a look at WhatsApp- the archive option seems to have disappeared?
As some PPs were saying I think WhatsApp must also have removed the option to delete anyway.
I’m sure WhatsApp did used to have an archive option…..

It's still got it - if you're on your mobile, from the 'chats' page, put your finger on the group and a menu will pop up offering you the options to archive, mute, leave group etc. That works for iphone anyway.

Thanks for that - I found it so if I do decide to archive at least I know how to!

I removed a group recently from WhatsApp where I was the admin. In order to delete it, I had to remove people individually until there was only myself left. Only then could I delete the group. It was a real faff.

Then everyone started texting asking why they’d been removed from the group! Several months on people are convinced the group still exists and they are the only one excluded 🙃

Why do you need to close it? Just don't use it and it'll drop out of sight at the bottom of your other chats.

I get why you're so disappointed with this friendship group. I myself am getting increasingly cynical about what I call theoretical friendships where people consider themselves a friend but can't be bothered with actual interaction.

That said I don't see how you can make any announcement that won't be seen as petty. Best to just stop using the group and let it fade.

Polls often get more response. Say about an event and ask people to let you know if they can make it in the poll so you can plan.
People sometimes feel awkward saying no and feel like they have to justify, or they're just busy so assume silence says no thanks.

Intrigued by the people saying they don’t respond to invitations when they don’t want to go or can’t go. It takes less than 10 seconds to say “sorry I can’t”. You could even take 30 seconds and briefly say why and thank the person for suggesting it.

This isn’t some unsolicited marketing email, it’s a message from a friend asking if you’re interested in a social event. If they asked you face to face would you just say nothing and walk off?

And then this place is full of people bemoaning how their friendships tend to drift away.

Well it depends how it's phrased maybe. I always try to reply myself but sometimes I see a message in the middle of something and forget.

If it said "would you all like to come to lunch on Saturday?" Or "I'm buying tickets for this event, does anyone want to come" I would expect replies, if it said "I'm heading down to town for the festival later, hopefully see some of you there!" Then those not going might ignore?

I don’t understand the faff - archiving it just moves it to a different section of your WhatsApp. You or anyone else can still go in and use the chat if needed. It’s not really a ‘decision’ it’s just moving its place. You’ll see a little ‘1’ if someone writes in it, and it will probably be in everyone else’s normal inbox as they won’t be giving this a second thought.

is that really the case? So when someone starts a WhatsApp group, it will never disappear? That seems odd.

I think WhatsApp used to have the option to delete groups but now doesn’t

I would just leave the group.

I'd upload a gif of a tumble weed or something light hearted if I posted something and after a few days no one is had responded, just may be give me them a nudge to reply!

But it does mean she is the only one who can close it

I think you are way over thinking this. Just don’t revisit the group or post anything else. It’s not like it’s taking up any of your time etc. if it’s just been used for event sharing then perhaps people simply dont want to go.

It's way more drama to try and delete/close the group.

You have to be the last person left to be able to delete a group. So first you'd need to remove other members from the group - they will get a notification about that and wonder what's going on (unless you write a message on the group first saying the only way to delete the group is to remove members first then delete - adding to the drama imo).

Just archive it on your own WhatsApp and forget about it. No one can see if you've archived it. It doesn't do anything in the group.

Only if she's the last/only member of the group too

An announcement will look incredibly petty, especially as your events will be the last messages there before your announcement.

Why does the group need closing at all? Just ignore it.

Don’t think you need to be dramatic. Just stop using it. No announcements or deletions necessary (though I get deleting it if you wanna keep your WhatsApp list neat and tidy).