WhatsApp has become the primary messaging service over the last few years. It has been able to replace SMS messaging, instant messaging, and even, to some extent, parts of email. People use WhatsApp to communicate overseas, with large groups, and even send blasts out to groups of unsuspecting recipients. It is therefore time that we go through the rules of what should be allowed, encouraged, or banned on WhatsApp.
Voice Notes
Voice Notes could be great if you have a long diatribe that would be better understood if it was just audible. Inflection and tone are often missed in text, and a voice note is a great way to alleviate those worries. However, if you find yourself sending a string of sub-twenty-second voice notes, it is time for a phone call. This is especially true if your recipient is responding in text. This is obviously a person who does not want to be bothered with having to pause their day to continue to listen to your voice. He is trying to hint to you that your voice is annoying, but you are not taking the hint. Believe this to be true: He does not want you to continue to voice note him.
Group Messaging
I can credit group messaging on WhatsApp with being able to maintain certain friendships I otherwise would have likely lost over the years. I belong to family groups, work groups, and topic-based groups. However, if you have noticed that a conversation has basically been dominated by you and only one other group participant, it is time to spin that off into its own conversation. This chat is meant to keep this group of friends together. You two happen to live in the same neighborhood and are now discussing some event that happened at your kid’s school? Nobody else cares. Take it offline.
Old News Scolding
We happen to live in an age where information moves in cycles. What was making the rounds a year ago may have decided to make its triumphant return. Every Purim, I get the same image of the giant pizzataschen sent to me. However, if someone shares a meme or a tweet or a news story that has already been shared in the group, someone will inevitably reply to that message, “old.” You idiot! We already discussed that in June of last year. And then they’ll find that message and reply to it as if to say “here, I get credit for bringing this to light, and you’re such a moron that you didn’t read and remember ever single conversation this group has ever had since its inception.” Well, there is a reason that every single eid for Rosh Chodesh was allowed to testify even after the Sanhedren already knew that the new moon appeared. It’s because in the future, you may need those eidim because they were the only ones who saw the new moon, and you didn’t want to discourage them from coming. It’s the same idea with sharing information in WhatsApp. Don’t shame someone from sharing something funny or interesting because one day, they just might not want to share it, and then you missed out.
Photo Dump
I don’t care how cute your Purim costumes were. This is not a family chat. You get one picture. That’s it. I don’t need to see your entire album from your family vacation either.
Emojis and GIFs
Emojis and GIFs are fine if you have a quick one ready to go, but if you are spending more than 10 seconds trying to find that perfect reference to the conversation from a movie that was last relevant during the Clinton Administration, you are doing it wrong. Just answer the message with, you know, words. They work quite well. We’ve been using them since the beginning of time. The great thing about this rule is that it is an internal one. You and you alone are the only one who will know if you transgress it. Be true to yourself and don’t give in.
I think if we all follow these simple rules, it will make for a better WhatsApp experience ;-)
