What is the WhatsApp etiquette?

[raininthenightgarden]

I'm on a family WhatsApp group and my family members post up to 5 times a day. I'm a single parent and so am either at FT work or looking after my DS. I'm perfectly happy but not doing anything exciting that I feel the need to photograph and update them all on. They are posting nice pictures of themselves on walks or on holidays or whatever.

I get a bit bored of constantly replying to say how nice a picture is or asking questions about the photos they post.

So would it be rude to just ignore? I'm sure they'd like to see pics of DS and I do post them now and again but I don't like taking photos and I don't want to interrupt my time with DS to take them either, he's only one and likes to have my full attention.

Just don't want to be rude or under pressure to constantly comment.

Appreciate that I am probably over thinking this

You are definitely overthinking! Just post that from now on you will be looking at the pictures/ posts quickly as you are working but won't answer! Is there a reason you feel obliged to look at the posts when they come in? Can't you just turn off notifications?

Although, returning a 👍🏻 to a post doesn't take much more time than looking at it.

I agree with NotTheWayISeeIt. I'm in several family groups, the only one I've not muted is the one with my parents. However, I do make sure to check in here and there so I don't miss things that 'should' be replied to, e.g. 'X's birthday', 'Y's graduation'.

I don't have notifications on. I suppose what I feel a bit worried about is that they are all in conversation and replying to one another and posting more pics and it's as if I'm silent and sulking. I'm genuinely not - I just don't want to chat via WhatsApp all day. It feels odd because in real life I'm quite jolly and chatty.

I wouldn't worry. Some people are really chatty on WhatsApp and some people aren't. It's all good and not really a reflection of how they are in person. Just send a message when you want to. No need to reply to every photo

Hey thanks all. I think good advice here - I will relax about it all.