Are school WhatsApp groups disrupting parents’ lives?

22 Jan 2019

There are many wonderful things about the social messaging platform, WhatsApp.

From instant responses with your friends to sharing photos of your recent trip away, it’s a social application many of us could not bear to live without.

Phone communication has taken over our lives. Source: Giphy

WhatsApp’s impact is huge, with revenue and usage statistics (2019) from Business of Apps stating that, “Its 1.5 billion users in 180 countries makes WhatsApp the most-popular messaging app in the world.”

Once you realise just how many people are using the social messaging service, you’ll realise how difficult it might be to give it up.

Frequently used in the global education sector by schools and school social groups to update parents on the latest school trips, essential announcements and holiday times, it has become a beneficial necessity for those who want to be kept in the loop.

The problem, however, is the pressure this places on parents to get involved and join in with these groups.

Alongside a multitude of family, friends and work WhatsApp groups, having just one more to handle may not seem like a big deal.

But when the incessant updates start, so do the expectations.

Biggest fear from having kids:

Being added to parents Whatsapp/Facebook groups.

— Benjamin George 🇪🇸🇬🇧 (@BenjaminGJW) January 13, 2019

The advantages of being linked to a school WhatsApp group do, of course, exist.

For instance, if you’re a parent who has to send your child to an international school while you work overseas, the platform will provoke inclusivity and allow you to check on your child’s progress and upcoming performances/events you may not be able to attend.

It also reinforces relationships between the school’s faculty members and the parents themselves.

WhatsApp groups run by the school may provide a gateway to expressing your concerns or asking fundamental questions about the student’s overall learning experience.

School WhatsApp groups for parents mean well – but could be the new torturous development of modern parenting https://t.co/jBeyGthQMd

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 17, 2019

The debate between social media groups and their impact on modern-day parenting has long been discussed.

Not every parent at the school will be tech-savvy and glued to their smartphone. In fact, some may even be resisting technological advances and choose not to buy into flashy marketing and the ‘need’ for an IoT device.

There is also the threat of parents bringing this digital dilemma upon themselves by creating social groups for school mothers or fathers.

In a bid to bring all guardians together and help students create stronger bonds with their fellow classmates, weekly events may be established and shared via the WhatsApp channel.

Yet, those who cannot attend may feel they’re holding their child back from important social events and therefore immerse themselves in unnecessary guilt.

My parents receive more WhatsApp messages in a day than I do in a week!

— Myalinmani (@akatakatha) January 15, 2019

One thing is for certain, WhatsApp isn’t going anywhere. As such, there’s a strong possibility this pressure will increase and evolve into a major issue for parents everywhere…