Undoubtedly, we have all been members of a university group chat at some point during our studies. Most likely, at the start of university. Starting university is an undeniably daunting experience, so being part of these chats could ease the pressure to find friends, course mates and feel included. Yet, as social media and technology become even more integrated into our lives, are we too reliant on these chats to settle into university? Most importantly, is it the be-all and end-all to be a part of them, and do people actually make lasting friends in these group chats?
During Freshers’ Week, group chats are a convenient way to see what’s going on, whether that’s seeing what events everyone’s attending, organising flat parties or finding sold-out event tickets. This makes it easy to get involved with all the Freshers’ fun, considering club tickets can become costly for several events throughout the week. For those seeking a last-minute night out, people often sell tickets on large group chats, so you never miss out on wherever your new flatmates are attending, especially as some Freshers’ events this year have already sold out! The social convenience group chats present allows you to easily see what is going on around you, or go on a night out previously thought to be off the cards. Yet, it is important to watch out for scams, with people selling fake tickets at discounted prices to seem genuine. Often, you can queue at the door and still be let in, which questions the need for these group chats.
Also, before moving into your university accommodation, many people often make group chats specifically for individual flats. This is great for communicating with your flatmates before moving in, getting to know each other, and organising nights out. This relieves some of the social stress of moving in, as having a conversation with flatmates before move-in day already starts to build relationships with new people at university. Nevertheless, it is important to remember where real socialisation takes place. You will not get to know your flatmates fully until you move in with them. It’s great to speak with them beforehand, but it will not make or break your life at university by speaking to them earlier.
Many sports teams and societies also rely on group chats to organise events, socials and practice. These chats become hubs of communication, without which many of these teams would not be able to function. They also keep members in the loop about upcoming meetings if they miss one or two events. Yet, they can often become overcrowded and full of constant messages, many of which are irrelevant or spam. This can become overwhelming and make you feel just as left out if you are not constantly keeping up with such messages.
Also, it’s important to remember that social media isn’t for everyone. Those not on social media may see others in group chats and feel left out just because they don’t want to join Snapchat. Those who joined through Clearing may also miss out, like myself. Many group chats are made when you receive an offer to study earlier in the year or find people on social media. I joined Sheffield through Clearing and was not part of the main Freshers’ group chats.
Despite this, I did not have a problem connecting with my flatmates or people on my course. During Freshers’ Week, my course offered several introductory lectures and seminars that were not related to our studies, with their sole purpose being to meet academic staff and those on our course. It is these opportunities that allowed me to meet my current main friends, which goes beyond what Snapchat groups can achieve – meeting people face to face. Also, for those not on social media, many sports teams and societies often operate WhatsApp group chats. Therefore, you can’t miss out on key information that is also put on social media. During Freshers’ Week, many flats often make leaflets to advertise parties and put up signs around other flats, which conveys identical information to what would be put on Snapchat.
So, it’s worth considering, what do these university group chats actually offer, and are we stepping towards relying too heavily on social media as our main way of making friendships?
Although they can be fun, it’s interesting to put into perspective what these group chats actually achieve. They can indeed be helpful for organisation, social events and making the first few friendships at university. They can often seem overwhelming, but you may find yourself on an unexpected fun night out which you wouldn’t have known about otherwise if you weren’t part of group chats. However, with these things considered, the university knows that these group chats and social media aren’t for everyone. Nights out, social events and parties are well advertised in emails, leaflets and handouts all over university. You really can’t miss it!
Hopefully, I’ve proved that there are other ways to make friends rather than through social media, and that you truly don’t know someone until you get to know them in person. Group chats can introduce you to people, give you something to talk about and make those first few days at university feel slightly less daunting, but they cannot replace the experience of actually meeting someone face to face.
Overall, I would recommend joining a university group chat. They can be useful, entertaining and a great way to stay informed about what is happening around you. However, I would not recommend prioritising them as a way of making friends. If you are not part of one, don’t worry that you are missing out on the university experience. There are so many opportunities to meet people once you actually start university, whether that is through your course, your flatmates, sports teams, societies or simply starting a conversation with someone. At the end of the day, a group chat can help you find people, but it is the friendships you build in person that really matter.
Image credit – Microsoft CoPilot
