Exit WhatsApp: A task that is next to impossible

WhatsApp the world of chat — **Are you a WhatsApp member?**

Have you ever wondered why it is impossible to exit WhatsApp? Well, most of the members who are part of any WhatsApp group understand quite well why exit is not an option. The mobile boom and easy broadband connectivity have led to a world where people are connected 24/7. 80% of the conversations that happens on a mobile are unnecessary. Its only 20% that is productive.

WhatsApp is a part of the Facebook conglomerate that also owns Instagram. Facebook is expected to earn revenues of more than $100 billion this year. However recently WhatsApp has been in news in India for all the wrong reasons.

The social media is like a jungle — **The social media tree**

WhatsApp has asked users for their consent to share their data. Once a user has given consent WhatsApp will share data on its platform with Facebook and its group companies like Instagram. The data that it will share concerns an individual’s privacy like the transaction data, mobile device information, IP addresses, etc. There is a huge hue and cry over the privacy issue on social media and how it will impact the life of an ordinary user. The government has intervened and WhatsApp has delayed the implementation for some time. I am not sure how the stalemate will be resolved but if it is not then it can be an Exit WhatsApp from India situation.

The WhatsApp family comes under tremendous pressure due to the day-to-day messaging chats. Some chats are friendly while some are sarcastic, some are emotional while some are insulting. The emotional or the friendly ones keep one bonded to the groups. On the other hand, the sarcastic and the insulting ones make one feel like exiting WhatsApp.

The Anger management issues that makes one exit WhatsApp

Members fighting on a political debate — **An aggressive debate on WhatsApp**

WhatsApp is a great platform to test people’s patience. In a friend’s group, there are times when few chats end up in hot political debates. As a result, one of the members leaves the group. The exit from a WhatsApp group is a sign of protest indicating that the member has no tolerance for such one-sided opinion in the group. On the other hand, the leaving of a member has no impact on the aggressor in the group as he continues with his tirade irrespective of what other members feel.

Between the aggressor and the defender (who finally leaves the group), there are pacifiers who play the role of Fevicol in the group. They are the ones who keep the members bonded to the group and keep the group alive. Whenever a situation arises where the defender tends to exit WhatsApp, it’s the pacifiers who will cool him down and add him back to the group. WhatsApp is like a street leading to the crime world. Entering the world of crime is easy but exiting it is impossible.

Neighbors envy owners pride

Blowing ones own trumpet — **The trumpeter of the group**

There are groups where few members will keep posting pictures of their latest vacation trip or a new car or a dress. These members can be called trumpeters. Trumpeters are people who believe in blowing their own trumpet creating a cacophony for other group members.

The life of a trumpeter is like an open book. They prefer to present every aspect of their life on WhatsApp group whether it is a vacation or a new iPhone. By sharing their choice they get a one-up feeling over the rest of the group members.

Trumpeters frustrate group members forcing them to exit WhatsApp — **Trumpeter often frustrate the group members**

There are times when the trumpeters tend to flood the group with 30-40 pictures that becomes quite annoying for the rest of the group members. People who post an entire album of pictures on WhatsApp groups or other social media don’t realise one thing. All the pictures get stored on a Cloud.

What is a Cloud?

A cloud of social media — **The Cloud that stores everything**

A Cloud is a network of multiple servers or data centers placed in a remote location that store huge data of users connected through the internet. The data is stored by a service provider who manages and operates the servers. The data is delivered on-demand in real-time by the service provider with a click of a button. Cloud eliminates the need of buying and managing your own data center.

The Google Cloud servers are located all over the world from Hong Kong to Mumbai and from Jakarta to Sydney. In the USA, they are located in different states from South Carolina to Dallas, Oregon to Los Angeles, California.

Servers need 24/7 electricity to run. The more electricity they consume the more heat they generate adding to global warming. Recent studies have shown that the energy consumption of data centers will be around 3.2% of total worldwide carbon emissions by 2025. Also, they would consume no less than a fifth of the global electricity. The group members should remind the trumpeters that the more pictures or data they share the more they add to global warming.

The Garbage Collectors who force people to exit WhatsApp

Garbage collector force members to exit WhatsApp — **A Garbage collector**

The Garbage collectors are species similar to trumpeters. While the trumpeters believe in blowing their own trumpet, a garbage collector keeps sharing the World wide web’s trash content on the group. The garbage collector gets some kind of a kick by sharing content that is annoying to others. By sharing the trash content on the group he feels he has fulfilled his obligation to society.

To a great extent, garbage collectors are responsible for the spreading of fake news. The content shared by them is never verified and ends up on thousands of groups creating at times a rift in the society. Garbage collectors are often blamed for the polarization of society. Remember the Trump supporters who were ultimately banned by the social media giants like Facebook and Twitter.

The government’s spat with WhatsApp is primarily meant to control the volatile content. The Indian government wants that WhatsApp should have its servers based in India and give access to the authorities to check on the culprits sharing such content. But WhatsApp contends that their end-to-end encryption messages are meant to safeguard the user’s privacy. Currently, WhatsApp is not in the mood to exit India.

The Family groups

The larger the family the more tendency of members to exit WhatsApp — **The bigger the family group more the tendency of members to get upset**

Every WhatsApp member would be a part of at least 15-20 family groups. Needless to say, the larger the family the more the number of groups. The tendency of a member to exit a WhatsApp family group is directly proportional to the size of the group. So, a group made up of an immediate family is like a group that stays forever. On the other hand, a group made of bhaiya and bhabhi’s, cousin brothers and sisters, bua and mausi is susceptible to a lot of emotional stress. As a result, the weakest link in the group tends to exit WhatsApp.

Bruised ego, family member’s post getting ignored by others, a sarcastic remark by a senior family member are a few reasons for the member leaving the group. Attempts are made by the pacifiers to cajole the member and bring him back to the group. Finally, the group admin adds him back. Like I said in the beginning WhatsApp is a one-way street. Entering is easy but exit impossible.

So till you are a member keep enjoying and if getting irritated just ignore.