Where has everyone gone? WhatsApp etc

[Longjo]

I belong to quite a few whatsapp groups, some I have been in for a while and others that were created at the start of the outbreak. I found these a great way to distract from the bad news and people would often post links, videos, jokes, ideas, community support... everything really. Today I realised it has almost all come to a standstill. Is it just the groups I'm in or are people fed up with posting now? I posted a link in a group today with over 40 people. No one responded! Some people, who used to post daily, have left the groups. I'm a single parent so these groups have been a real means of distraction and uplifting support for me. Everything feels very quiet at that moment...

We've run out of memes.

Seriously though I'm running out of small talk. I get up, work, eat, run, shower, tv, bed. Rinse and repeat. There is nothing to catch up on with friends, nothing on the news except corona, it's groundhog day.

People are depressed.

I've watched it happen with even (especially?) the normally upbeat on WhatsApp and FB. Their posts have become more and more morose, sarcastic and few and far between.

I think people are communicating less as well (though one group I am a kind of silent member of is still pretty active, as well as my local mutual aid WhatsApp group but that’s different). I guess the novelty has worn off and it feels like more of a hard slog now. I am also a single parent.

I think people are actually bored of social media too and are finding other things to pass the time. I know I am.

Agree that it is Groundhog Day. Nothing to report.

Yes, it's gone in a cycle. Initially everyone was upbeat and "we can do this" and everything was being moved to zoom etc.
Now people have realised they can do an exercise video on their own from YouTube.
Our street WhatsApp group has become a forum for swapping 1000 piece jigsaws and lending garden power tools!

I don't have time to post much. Working at home with a toddler isn't easy. Then there's extra time spent on food, making sure wider family are ok, checking in on a few people who work for the NHS or live alone (both on one case), doing the cleaning because our cleaner can't come, responding on the neighbour WhatsApp about whatever someone needs, chatting in small friend groups etc. Bigger WhatsApp groups would come pretty far down the chain (if I hadn't left or muted them all in the past anyway).

Sorry you feel lonely though, maybe just join some new groups that suit you. New friends can be fun too.

I had to update my WhatsApp today-
Apparently it was the last day to update it!

@Pebbles574 perhaps I need to do a 1000 piece jigsaw

I understand the depression in people. It's from people who were initially upbeat and who I didn't expect to disappear entirely.

I'm guessing if it's a cycle it will all pick up again?

Virgin Media broadband seems to have outages across Ireland and the UK today. Does your Whatapp work on wifi only or is it enabled for use of 4G?

I’m bored of it all. For the first week or two I was positive and upbeat, not so much now. I’d rather read my book than talk to people

I found the outbreak of memes on our neighbourhood WhatsApp group to be really exhausting. It turned into people sharing news articles and ranting about covidiots and turned so nasty that 4 people left. I'm delighted it's now jigsaws an power tools.
I'd say the WhatsApp group of 'real' friends is quieter for the past week or two, but I agree that's because we don't have much new chat. Not that people are especially low, just don't have loads to say. It perks up when someone sends something and then goes quiet again.

If you're missing it have you posted anything? Or contacted the previously chatty people to check they're OK?

I'm in a WhatsApp group and the memes are coming thick and fast.. I find it really annoying and intrusive and I'm going to leave the group

Our group chat has gone quiet. I think partly people have run out of things to say. There's not much to talk about really. Well the biggest conversations in ours were people asking if anyone had seen gluten free pasta etc stocked anywhere or asking if anyone needed help with anything, and then one or two asking for help. I guess people who are in the groups and needed help have it sorted now, and the supermarkets are generally better stocked/ people have found alternatives they're happy with.

A close relative of mine has died of covid and I am finding all of the social media #lockdown/memes/funnies/faux positivity quite trite. Even the clap for carers positive stuff I am struggling with as it glosses over fact that care workers and NHS are woefully under protected. A neighbour had a massive kareoke party atmosphere sing along after the clap the day after my relative died. He meant well and it was all meant to boost community spirit etc but it ruined the solemnity of the clap which was so important to me that night.

To me its very real and not a joke anymore. I've had to step back from whatsapp/FB because I just think the majority of those posting have no idea. They are lucky I suppose. My experience is colouring my feelings on this but as more and more are affected there will only be more and more feeling the same as me.

What is there to talk about? No one has a life right now

@Oldmrswasherwoman
I’m so sorry you have lost someone close to you to the virus, heartbreaking 💔

Thank you Ilove I am less depressed than my post suggests! Just a bit jaded at the moment.

OP if you are feeling isolated, please reach out, pick a couple of people from that 40 and contact them individually for a chat - in a large whatsapp group the collective responsibilty to reply often means no one does.

Yes it's TRUE here. Everyone apart from 2 friend what's app me during this lock down. There is a group chat and one friend normally posts alot of stuff, has gone radio silent! I've tried talking with him, but nothing!!! He must be depressed? Who knows?!

I don’t do WA

But who has anything to talk about? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oldmrswasherwoman 💐

My groups are still very active. I also have 5 regular Zoom catchups with family or friends each week. Daily FaceTime my DM & MiL.

We still seem to have lots to talk about

I'm not in the mood for video chats now either. I almost hung up on MIL today after she rang to speak to DS, who true to form got bored and shoved the tablet into my lap while she was still connected. Had to have a conversation with her and I just couldn't be bothered.. I feel so down about it all and I can't get motivated to chat normally to anyone, not even my siblings and own mum.

I found that people were talking at the beginning about YouTube workouts, leaning Spanish, cooking from scratch, spring cleaning, playing the guitar, finally watching the Sopranos, planting some shrubs, reading some of the classic authors etc etc. Now the novelty has worn off.

I also think that people are out and about more these days too - my main road has been notably busy since Friday. So there’s less loneliness and less spare time.