7 rules for group texting.

Group texting can be beneficial for many different reasons.  Getting an immediate message out to the masses saves a lot of time and energy.  But it can also be super annoying if you don’t use proper group texting etiquette.  So, before you dive into the quicksand also known as a group text chain, here are a few rules you should follow.

1. No emojis.  Nothing is worse than expecting an important response, only to see your phone lighting up with a thumbs up or some big ol’ heart eyes.  Sometimes I just want to slap that cute little yellow-faced smirk. 😜
2. No texting between 8pm and 8am.  Have you ever been in the middle of that sweet moment between consciousness and sleep, and suddenly your phone goes off? 4 times? DING! DING! DING! DING!  Or you wake up only to find 50 new texts awaiting your attention?  Nobody should have to deal with that first thing in the morning.  Caffeine first please.
3. Recipients must live in the same time zone.  Along the same lines as clock consideration, please be aware if you are texting someone in a different time zone.  If you’re in California while all your buddies are in New York, they probably won’t appreciate your end-of-the-day texts.  Just no.
4. Don’t expect an answer.  If you are initiating a group text, please respect everyone’s time.  If someone is at work, they may not even look at their phone for hours.  If I am spending time with my family, I often leave my phone in a different room, or honestly just ignore it. If you need an immediate answer, maybe group texting isn’t the best idea.
5. Keep your phone on silent.  This is just plain common courtesy.  If you are receiving 25 texts a minute, turn off the sound.  Those around you will be ever so grateful.
6. Don’t start a convo that should be private.  Often times, two people from the same group text start chatting about things only relevant to them.  Or in other cases, they might even forget they are in a group text, and start talking about things that are totally private!  If your texts only apply to one person in the group, start a separate chain…unless of course it’s really juicy!
7. Email instead.  Once in a while, a group text will turn into a whirlwind of endless information.  If you have a lot to say, just stick it in an email.  Group texts should not last all day or make me have to scroll to read a single response.

A little common knowledge about these unspoken rules that frankly, needed to be spoken, can go a long way.  Maybe send them to your friends in a group text.