WHATSAPP group chats now sit quietly in the background of daily life, picked up in spare moments, during a tea break, or when we’re looking for a quick distraction. Some WhatsApp group chats are purely functional: Reminders about World Book Day, arrangements for a Zumba class, updates on workplace events. For many, that’s where group chats have found their place — not as a replacement for friendship, but as something that keeps it going in the background of busy lives. That flexibility is part of what makes WhatsApp group chats work so well. Some group chats are purely practical, but the ones we return to most are often those built on friendship.

Source: Irish Examiner March 31, 2026 09:30 UTC