WhatsApp Ettiquette
A recent innovation that has revolutionised
telephony is a feature known as WhatsApp, a free to download messenger
app for smart phones. WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages, images,
audio or video. The service is very similar to text messaging services. However,
because it uses the internet to send messages, the cost of using WhatsApp is
considerably less than texting. Users
can share their location in real time over messages. They can also organise
lists of contacts so that they can quickly send messages to lots of people in
group chats through WhatsApp. Probably the best feature of WhatsApp is that it
allows users to keep in touch with people living abroad, without incurring the
international charges associated with text messages.
Like other forms of communication, WhatsApp too has its rules of
etiquette. Some of these are summarized below:-
Ø Don’t forward everything you receive. You
may be a member of several groups. Avoid the temptation of forwarding
everything you receive on one group to other groups. This often results in one
person receiving the same message several times. If it comprises photographs
and videos, this not only consumes a lot of data, but precious time. The person
receiving the post often has to wait for several seconds, if not minutes,
before he can see the video, which turn out to be one that he has already seen.
There are other pitfalls of forwarding. An off colour joke will draw a laugh
from your group of class mates, but may invite frowns in a family group that
has children and grand parents.
Ø Verify sensational information before
forwarding to others. One often gets a
message, photograph or video containing sensational information. Don’t forward
it to others without verifying its authenticity. This is easier said than done.
Such messages often end with request to circulate it widely and warn others. In
most cases, they contain rumours, intended to inflame passions. There have been
instances of lynching and mob violence triggered by such posts.
Ø Avoid one to one chats in groups. If
you wish to have a one to one chat with another person,
don’t do it by posting on the group. Other members of the group may not be
interested in your conversation. Send personal messages only to the person
concerned and not the whole group.
Ø Don’t sacrifice clarity for brevity. Unlike
other messaging apps such as SMS and Twitter, there are no character limits in
WhatsApp. Make sure that whatever you post is written clearly, without
resorting to the lingo used in SMS such as LOL (laughing out loud), MHROTD
(many happy returns of the day) and so on.
Ø Don’t ignore personal messages. You
need not reply or comment on every post in a group chat, but individual
messages should not be ignored. If you cannot give a detailed reply, send a short
acknowledgment, with the promise to send a reply later. Remember, the sender
comes to know as soon as you have read the message and you cannot claim, as you
can in SMS or e-mail, that you have just seen the message. Not sending a reply
or acknowledgement to a personal message is rude.
Ø Send photos only to those who would like to
see them. If there is an important event of
which you have recent photographs, by all means send them to those who would be
interested. Photos of a class reunion would interest all your class mates,
especially those who could not attend. Similarly, photos of a newly born child,
an engagement or wedding could be sent to everyone in a family group. But avoid
sending all photographs taken during a vacation, a party, an exhibition or a
seminar to all and sundry, unless you are sure they will be interested.
Ø Use an emoji only when necessary. The
emoji is useful when you wish to give a quick response displaying appreciation,
laughter, surprise or any other emotion. However, it should not be used as a
routine. It is not necessary for everyone in the group to respond with an emoji
to a joke. If the sender expects a proper reply, it is rude to send an emoji
instead of sending a written message.
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