Whats appening ON TV?
We’ve been commenting on TV via Twitter for years, but with autumn’s packed schedules, Whatsapp groups are where the chat’s at, says Rhiannon Evans
‘Has everyone watched?’ ‘Watched’ ‘So good’ ‘NO SPOILERS. Five mins behind’ ‘Can’t until the kids are in bed … ‘OK watched… WHAT THE HELL?!!!!’
Cue phone buzzing faster than one of Goop’s vibrator recommendations. This is my life now, watching TV with Whatsapp.
More and more of us are shunning Twitter and other social networks for slightly less social groups containing our real-life mates, exchanging self-affirming ‘lols’, predictions and plot holes rather than ‘liking’ the tweets of a comedian we’ve never met. In just the last few months on Whatsapp, I’ve been part of specific Love Island and Game Of Thrones groups, traded Netflix next-watch tips and Ozark updates and woken up to a very heated discussion about Taylor Swift’s new video, all of which I used to do on Twitter. And that’s not counting the Tv-based asides in currently existing groups. As I typed this paragraph, a friend messaged to say she’s just watched GBBO and her favourite is Flo. Admittedly, I’m both a television and Whatsapp addict, but I know I’m not alone. People are now even in groups with total randoms telly-apping, Whatstellying, Tvatsappening, Group Tving… (OK, to find out Whatsappening on TV – yeah, we know it’s a mouthful.)
The rise of Whatsapp has gone hand in hand with our increasing appetite for TV – it’s getting better, there’s more of it and there are more ways to watch it. We need an outlet for our opinions, and for that, Whatsapp is perfect. Multiple groups are ideal. Nine uni friends and only six are watching Strike? Create a splinter group called ‘I <3 Cormoran’. Ever posted what you think is a killer tweet but no one responds? You’re almost
guaranteed discussion on Whatsapp. And it’s a spoiler-free zone – you can check who’s caught up before spamming each other with indignation/surprise/ecstasy at a judge’s decision. The only drawback is having so many chats you’ll get RSI. I’m already planning Strictly and X Factor groups (members need only apply if they can name every finalist thus far).
When it comes to numbers, more of us are turning to Whatsapp for discussion. Twitter has around 328 million monthly active users. In July, Whatsapp – which has exploded since it was acquired by Facebook – announced 1 billion daily users. 500 million tweets are posted a day, but we’re sending 55 billion Whatsapps in that time. And while people are discussing many things on Whatsapp that they can’t on Twitter – like which date all 14 of you will be free for a ‘catch-up drink’ (12th of Never) – I’d wager around 80 billion of those messages were ‘That’s your aunty, Jon!’ after the GOT finale last week.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised after Twitter and Facebook’s plague of Fake News issues. We’re fed up of sifting for truth like a gold prospector – and when we get it, that truth is usually depressing. There are also the trolls – anyone who’s accidentally been RT’D by a Nicole Scherzinger fan account after nonchalantly commenting that her X Factor outfit looks like a Sesame Street character, knows it’s tiresome. On Whatsapp, the worst you’re likely to get is someone disagreeing about Mollie King’s cha-cha. Most likely, you’ll get people agreeing or applause emojis – it’s the ultimate echo chamber, and God knows we all love those these days.
The irony is that Whatsapp’s usurpation is the inevitable end-point of a revolution that Twitter started. Twitter is heralded for democratising discussion. ‘Forget the establishment’s view,’ said Twitter in 2006, ‘here, in 140 characters, you can discuss openly and hear the news from the horse’s mouth, or at least a horse you agree with – you can even argue with a really important and inaccessible horse whose views you don’t like.’ Now, we’re all so knowledgeable, we’re happy hearing real people’s views – and who better than our actual friends’? Ultimately, when it comes to everything – including, and especially, TV – that’s who we love to talk to and have a debate with. And we love to do it to our hearts’ content (not 140 characters), unjudged by followers ready for a fight.
In the adult world, time-poor and miles away from our mates, Whatsapp allows us to sit in a virtual school canteen table/common room/not-too-loud-pubthat-has-comfy-seats and obsess endlessly and unashamedly geekily about whatever the hell we want, with those who understand us best.