Group chat etiquette: who is right?
Muted, left, screenshotted, flooded with voice notes. The group chat finally has a judge.
A group chat is a shared space with no host and no rules, which is why the court hears so many of them. It usually rules on whether a message reached the people it was meant for.
- Guilty
Is it rude to rename the group chat without asking?
Renaming a group chat is fine for a trip or an occasion. Renaming it after one member's worst moment is not, and doing it four times is a campaign.
Read the ruling - Guilty
Is it rude to add someone to a group chat without asking?
Yes, in most cases, so ask the group first. People write differently when they know who is reading.
Read the ruling - Both at fault
Is it rude to make a group chat without one friend?
A smaller chat for a specific plan is normal, as long as it is not named or treated as the real one. The friend left out has a weaker claim if she declined every one of those plans.
Read the ruling - Both at fault
Is it rude to text the group chat late at night?
Sending messages late is usually fine, because each person controls their own notifications. Thirty in a row at 2 in the morning is still a lot.
Read the ruling - Guilty
Is it rude to react to a message instead of replying?
A reaction is a fine answer to news and a poor answer to a question. A thumbs up to a question that needs a yes or no is not a reply.
Read the ruling - Guilty
Is it rude to leave a group chat without saying anything?
It depends on the chat. Leaving a big event chat is fine; leaving a small friends chat with no word reads as a statement.
Read the ruling - Not guilty
Is it rude to mute the group chat?
No. Muting protects your attention and harms nobody, but you are still responsible for plans you were tagged in.
Read the ruling - Guilty
Is it rude to send long voice notes to a group chat?
Over about a minute, yes. A group chat is read by people in meetings, on trains and in libraries.
Read the ruling - Guilty
Is it wrong to screenshot the group chat and send it to someone else?
Yes, when the messages were obviously meant for the group. A screenshot removes the context the group shared.
Read the ruling - Both at fault
Why does no one make plans in the group chat?
Because "we should hang out" is not a plan. Until someone names a day and a place, the court holds everyone responsible.
Read the ruling
Other kinds of disputes
Think you're right? Take them to court 💬
Tell the court what happened. Your first two cases are free, and the other side can defend themselves.