Online group chats offer convenience, but they can quickly become chaotic if members lack awareness. According to Rupert Wesson, director of the UK-based etiquette organization Debrett's, digital culture has its own specific unspoken rules. Below are seven principles you should not ignore.
Think before you type
The foundation of good etiquette is respecting others' time. Avoid disturbing the group with questions easily found on Google or by reviewing previous messages.
Before sending photos, videos, or memes, ask yourself if they add value to the majority. Limit sending large files that can fill up others' phone storage. Most importantly, do not get upset if a message is met with silence. For urgent matters, make a direct call.
Respect the group's purpose
Absolutely avoid discussing personal matters or chatting casually in work groups. Conversely, do not bring up KPIs or boss reports in a casual chat group with close friends. If you are new to a group, observe the chat history to understand its culture before commenting hastily.
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There are unspoken rules in group chats you need to know. Photo: AP
The 'silence rule' in large groups
Do you have a habit of typing "Thank you" or "Received" in response to every notification? According to Rupert Wesson, if a group has only three people, a response (even just an icon reaction) is courteous.
However, if the group has 50 or more people, constantly messaging "thank you" is disastrous. This is like hitting "reply all" in a company email, causing dozens of phones to buzz for a meaningless piece of information.
Work groups are not for casual chatter
Platforms like Zalo and Microsoft Teams may feel less formal than email, but do not let that lead to careless remarks. "Always remember that anything you type can be screenshotted and forwarded", Wesson warned. Many people have negatively impacted their careers due to impulsive, mocking comments in company chat groups.
Brevity is key
In a chat environment, words can easily be misinterpreted in tone. You do not need to write with academic precision, but messages must be clear. Do not force colleagues to scroll through a lengthy message. Get straight to the point with concise sentences, or make a call if the matter is complex.
Be careful with emojis
Emojis make conversations more lively, but the line between a "sobbing" and "laughing-to-tears" emoji can sometimes be very fine across different phone models. The safest advice is to avoid using emojis when sending condolences, apologizing to a boss, or addressing serious issues.
The art of leaving a group
If a group is too noisy, boldly "mute notifications". For short-term event groups (like joint purchases or wedding invitations), you can quietly leave once the task is complete.
For work project groups, the minimum courtesy is to leave a message: "I have completed my part and am leaving the group to avoid diluting information." Do not leave a sentimental farewell message that prompts dozens of people to reply with goodbyes.
Bao Nhien (According to AP)
