Senior School and Social Media Groups

[Herewegosummer]

AIBU to think that social media chat groups have fundamentally changed the way teens socialise?

Before the use of smart phones school friendship groups, especially Year 9 onwards, seemed to be more fluid and inclusive. Teens were more accepting of chatting with who ever was around and organizing social things seemed a little more inclusive. Of course people had groups of friends but it seemed more relaxed and less ring fenced than today.

AIBU to think that snap groups and WhatsApp groups have made friendship groups incredibly rigid in the way they are either in the group or out. This is before you start to think about the adding and ditching from the chat groups and the repercussions this causes.

Maybe it’s only my experience comparing my school days to my kids but I haven’t seen many positive experiences from kids and social media chats. I have noticed a real lack of tolerance and acceptance of kids outside their own groups which I don’t remember at my senior school. Maybe I’ve just forgotten what school was like.

You're not wrong. It's so sad.

Teenage friendship groups have never been inclusive.

speak to anyone who has been teaching for more than ten years, see every high school movie ever which is about kids excluding other kids.

@Octavia64

I agree with you but I really think this is different, I’ll try and explain.

There will always be bullies and groups but I remember by around year 10 the kids were more mature. They were more accepting of others and less inclined to be in rigid groups.
The rigid groups and obsessive BFF’s were more junior school and possible first few years of senior.

I have noticed a lack of social maturity compared to my day.

Friendship groups were definitely not fluid and inclusive at my school in the 90s 😂

Even in year 11?

Christ no!

I went to a separate 6th form and yes, by then and with the mix-up things were a lot more fluid. But secondary school was very much in tribes.

At 16 I am so surprised at the maturity levels regarding groups.

I think you’re wrong and it all depends on the maturity of those in the groups.
Children’s social lives would be very much curtailed without them as they no longer have the girl freedoms that we had.

My DC would be very unhappy without the support of their friendship groups on WhatsApp and Snapchat.

I think they are curtailed with them too

• social freedoms, not girl freedoms! 😂

Definitely not my experience. I was somewhat of an outsider (I fit in most of the groups but not actually in, in) so I was able to observe them all more objectively. There were very clear lines and demarcations and everyone knew which group is which. While there wasn’t much overt meanness, and there would be talking during the school day, any out of school socialisation was mostly based along the lines of the groups. Even at school, they tended to gravitate together (partners, where they sat, breaks etc). It was very rare to have any kind of movement or social fluidity.

Forgot to add, they ALL looked down on each other , even if like I said , they weren’t necessarily mean to their face.