GROUP DYNAMICS

If you’re the one creating a WhatsApp chat group it’s not necessary to ask someone’s permission before adding them because that person can leave the group with relative ease, says Carla de Beer of the Digital Law Company.

Only group admins (the person who created the group and those they’ve given admin permissions to) can add or delete people, but you can remove yourself by tapping on the group’s name at the top of the screen and scrolling down to “Exit group”.

“Once someone has left, don’t re-add them,” De Beer cautions. “They left for a reason and don’t want to be there.”

If people start sending inappropriate messages, photos or videos on the group, tell them you’re having none of it, De Beer says. “We usually suggest that you voice your concerns – something like ‘not in my name’ – then leave the group immediately.”

It’s especially important to speak up if the comment is defamatory, racist or sexist.

“If you don’t disassociate yourself from the content you’re just as guilty as the person who posted it and you become part of the chain of publication. We call it ‘stepping into the shoes of the publisher’.”