Classlist vs Whatsapp

[Urubu]

My DC’s school is encouraging us to use Classlist so no Whatsapp has been setup by the parents rep.
Personally I think it is a pain, asks for credentiels every other time I log in from my phone, takes time to launch... It feels way too official for the kind of small talk that would happen on whatsapp - plus I am not sure the school can’t read everything so wouldn’t discuss how much to give for teacher’s presents for example.

I see the point for official school communication, and for school events etc.

But what are the advantages compared to Whatsapp for parents to talk to eachother?

Whatsapp is starting to cause all sorts of problems where I teach and I've heard of similar issues at other schools which have escalated.

Parents using it to bitch horribly and start to make personal remarks about the teacher which is technically bullying or can be leaked and cause huge upset and breakdown of the parent-teacher relationship. Competitive comparative parenting - photos of homework sheets to work out what 'level' work your child has or compare work children have produced. Parents keeping old whatsapp groups when classes are mixed and discussing other children on there, creating mountains out of molehills or victimising one child/parent. Parents trying to deal with friendship issues or bullying themselves... the list goes on!

I think it is much easier to sort whole class things such as money for presents via email or classlist more official ways and then just whatsapp any mothers you get on well with individually if you need to know what day a trip is or those kind of questions.

Classlist wasn't set up for schools to communicate with parents it's for parents to parent communication. It is GDPR compliant.

If you use the app rather than accessing through the emails you receive you shouldn't have to sign in. I haven't.

Classlist is a gods send for parents who run PTA as they can finally communicate direct to the parents without going via the school.