WhatsApp is so much a part of our daily lives that it is usually the first thing we check in the morning and the last thing we check at night. The mobile based free messaging service has become a way to keep in touch, share info, gossip, jokes, videos and more. But there is much that WhatsApp should not be used for; or rather that which I wish people did not use it for.
Good morning messages
What is the point really? Pretty flowers, cuddly puppies and cute babies are all very well but 16 good morning messages from 10 different groups and other 6 well meaning friends are a bit too much!
Violent videos
A woman’s thigh is caught in a polar bear’s jaw; some terror oganisation is beheading people, some criminal was recently executed and someone secretly filmed it. Please, please spare us!
Scary videos/ pictures
A nice looking girl turns into a demon the moment you touch that picture. O look, it’s a shark attack video! Cease and desist… these things give kids (and their mothers) nightmares!
Unverified messages
Rumors, ‘breaking news’, ‘alerts’ about attacks and other alarmist messages spread panic and misinformation. Do everyone a favour; don’t send anyone messages that are not verified.
Chain messages
Do you honestly think that you’ll win a lottery or a new car or a holiday if you forward some message to 20 people? How gullible are you!
The wrong message to the wrong group/person
That extremely suggestive video or the very, very adult joke really, really should not have been sent to the family group that includes your net savvy grandmother… don’t you think?
Messages you typed but did not read
I have one word for you people – Autocorrect!
This message
To me these words seem like garbled gibberish! Please use real words, people! Surely they taught you to spell in school? I shouldn’t need another degree simply to decipher that message!
The ‘magic’ message
“Send this one to another group and it will turn green!” Why should that matter to you or me in the slightest? And how old are you really that changing colours so fascinate you?
Author – Reena Daruwalla