I still remember the day I got my acceptance email from Howard four years ago. I was sitting on the floor of my mom’s bedroom, as she channel surfed and my little brother sat beside me, fixated on his toys. I immediately beamed when I received the admission decision email, the word “congratulations” sprawled across the photo of the Main Gate. My first thought was ‘Oh sh*t, I’m actually going to college.’ My second thought: ‘I have got to make some friends.’

For many of us transitioning into college, we rigorously checked our year’s HU Roll Call account on Instagram, following anyone with “HU” in their bio, scrolling our way through “Howard Twitter,” and joining multiple GroupMe’s. 

Joining an iMessage group chat felt like winning a golden ticket to social acceptance. It was one step closer to finding a friend group that could rival the idyllic squads of Grown-ish or A Different World. 

As social media platforms begin to shift (Twitter rebranding as X, toxic Instagram culture, and TikTok shop…hello?), it is increasingly more difficult to use these platforms for their initial purposes: to socialize. Some students feel frustrated with the concept of social media, with many permanently deleting their accounts. 

Senior Meron Campbell shares her decision to revert to connections-IRL.

“Disconnecting from social media has been so beneficial for me. Especially with Instagram, I felt such an intense pressure to portray my life in a specific way. I really appreciate moments more without social media looking over my shoulder,” Campbell shared.

With this social media exodus,  a new era of group chats is beginning to form. For the most part, group chats can be enjoyable. They give us a way to stay connected to those we truly care about. 

Each phone ding or red bubble can allow us to feel closer to our community with updates, opinions, and random convos directly from those we care about. They permit us to be a part of various groups and separate them accordingly, from classmates to more intimate connections. But at what point does group chat upkeep become overwhelming?

According to a survey conducted by Secure Data Recovery of 1,000 Americans, 66% have felt overwhelmed by group chats and 42% say that group chats feel like a part-time job.

The pressure of being active in group chats (and staying in them) has become an issue many face. From orgs and classes to close-knit friends and family, being a part of numerous group text chains can quickly turn into an anxious juggling act.

The importance of participating in group chat culture is so significant that leaving one can feel like breaking “group chat etiquette,” fearing the sentence: “[Your Name] has left the conversation” at the bottom of the screen, even if you haven’t said a word in months.  

“I’m in so many group chats, some I’ve been in since freshman year. But I can’t leave, it’s too awkward,” said Takier George, a senior English major, and TV/film minor.

Some Howard students, however, believe that group chats can bring friend groups closer together.

“It can definitely be overwhelming to be in group chats because there can be anywhere from five to twelve people constantly reacting to things and talking about anything,” said Amara Okongwu, a third-year environmental studies major.  “But they’re very necessary to maintaining my friendships with people — to coordinate plans, connect with people, and talk regularly,” Okongwu continued.

Maybe it’s time to return to our roots of off-screen socializing, or maybe the Red Bubble Era is not quite over just yet. Regardless, communication is constantly at the forefront of human evolution, and this is just the beginning.