Group chat manners, for members and admins

Family, school, office, society, batch and hobby groups carry a large part of daily life now, and most of the small irritations in them come from a handful of habits. This page sets out simple manners for members and for admins. None of it is law. It is what makes people glad, and not sorry, that they are in a group with you.

Before you post, ask three questions

1. Is it for this group? A society group is for the society. A class group is for the class. Jokes, greetings and news belong elsewhere unless the group has agreed otherwise.
2. Is it for everyone? If it concerns one person, message that person.
3. Is it true? If you did not write it and cannot name where it came from, do not pass it on.

Ten habits of a good group member

1. Read the group description and the pinned message when you join.
2. Write the whole thought in one message, not in six short ones that buzz six times.
3. Reply to the specific message you are answering, so that others can follow.
4. Keep one-to-one conversations out of the group. Move to a private chat after the second reply.
5. Do not post "good morning" pictures and festival forwards in working groups.
6. Avoid late night and very early messages unless it is urgent.
7. Do not share anyone's photo, phone number or address without asking them.
8. Stay off politics and religion in groups made for another purpose.
9. If you disagree, say so once, politely. Do not argue in front of fifty people.
10. Thank people. A group runs on a few members who do the work.

Forwards: check before you share

A forwarded message that warns of a danger, promises a free offer, quotes a doctor or asks to be sent to ten people is the kind most often false. Before forwarding:

• Look for the original source. A real government notice appears on the government's own website.
• Search the first line of the message with the word "fact check".
• Do not open links from unknown senders, and never enter passwords, OTPs or bank details through a link in a message.
• If you cannot check it, do not send it. Nothing bad happens when a message stops with you.

If you forwarded something that turned out to be false, say so in the same group. It takes one line, and people respect it.

What kind of group is it?

For admins

• Write the purpose and three or four rules in the group description.
• Welcome new members by name. Ready lines are on our group welcome page.
• Ask before adding anyone to a group.
• When a rule is broken, message the person privately first. Correct in private, thank in public.
• For notices that must not be buried, use the setting that lets only admins post, or keep a separate announcements group.
• Announcements should be complete on one screen. See our announcement messages.
• Share the admin role with one or two others, so that the group does not depend on one phone.

Sensitive moments

• A death is announced: one short line of condolence in the group is enough. Send the longer message privately. See condolence messages.
• Someone shares good news: congratulate, and resist turning the thread to your own news.
• An argument starts: do not add to it. If you are the admin, ask both sides to continue privately.
• Someone posts something by mistake: ignore it. They have noticed.

Muting and leaving

Muting a busy group is normal and is not rude. Check it once or twice a day. If you need to leave, one polite line is enough, and no reason is owed. Our group welcome and goodbye page has lines for leaving gracefully.

Safety in groups

• Large groups include people you do not know. Do not post travel plans, the fact that your house is empty, or children's details.
• A message from a "friend" asking urgently for money, an OTP or a gift card should be checked by calling the friend on their usual number.
• Report and leave a group that you were added to without consent and that looks like a scheme to make money quickly.

Ideas for group names, rules and games are on our sister site, Chat.