Building Our Best Vibe: A Quick Group Chat Guidelines Refresher
Hello 👋
We have got something super special going on here – a safe and supportive space where we can all connect, share, and grow. To make sure it stays that way for everyone, especially new faces, let's have a quick reminder about our Group Chat Guidelines. Think of them as our community's roadmap for awesome interactions.
Building a Welcoming Vibe for Everyone
Sometimes, without even realizing it, group chats can start to feel a bit like exclusive clubs. We want to make sure that doesn't happen here. Every single one of you brings something unique and valuable to our community, and we want everyone to feel seen, heard, and like they truly belong. That means being extra mindful of how we interact.
Let's quickly go over some key points from our guidelines that help us all be more inclusive:
- Be Respectful & Kind: This is huge! Our chat thrives on kind, supportive, and open-minded conversations. Let's make sure we're always creating an atmosphere where kindness comes first.
- Be Inclusive - Use English: For everyone to understand and participate easily, please stick to English in the main chat. This helps new members jump right in and feel part of the conversation.
- Be Considerate - No Cliques, No Spam: Let's keep the focus on general support and positive vibes. Avoid long, private conversations that might make others feel left out, and no spamming.
- Use Your Mute Button for Conflict: If you're not vibing with someone, that mute button is your friend! It helps you avoid conflict and keeps the room a positive space for everyone else. Let's resolve personal disagreements in private messages.
- To check out more guidelines, you can do one of the following:
- If you are on desktop or app, click on (...) three dots at the top of the right side of the chat box to open the drop-down menu and click on "Group Chat Rules" to read the guidelines.
- You can also directly click on this link (Click here) to read the member group chat guidelines as part of the community guidelines.
Take a quick refresher quiz on group chat guidelines and share your score with us here. Click here for the quiz!
Please know these guidelines are not just rules; they're the foundation of a truly supportive and inclusive community. When we all follow them, we ensure that every teen, whether they've been here for ages or just joined today, feels welcome and can fully participate. Let's make sure our kindness and openness shine through, welcoming every new voice with open arms.
Read these guidelines? Did you take the quiz? Awesome! Let us know you've got this by commenting "I'm in!" and sharing your quiz score below! 👇
@ASilentObserver
Thanks for the reminder! Really useful tips. And I enjoyed the quiz too. I did well! So. . . I'm in! 😊
@ASilentObserver
Refreshers are always amazing! Thank you, team, for working on this and maintaining a supportive atmosphere in the group chat rooms!
Scored a 20/20 🌻 In always hehe!
I get the message here and want to address something too!
I’ve often seen teens mentioning their unsupportive experiences in the teen group chats, and it does break my heart to see some really nice people to be left feeling like they aren’t welcome Or included in the safe spaces of these chat rooms to talk or share~ so it’s really really great to know that there’s been initiatives to amp up the support structure in chat rooms, specially the teen ones, and hope that more people feel even more comfortable sharing and seeking supporting in the group setting, with time!
The one reminder I like sharing with people interacting in group or public settings like group chat rooms or forumland is that treat others as how you wish to be treated.
Would you appreciate people talking behind your back? No? Then don’t do it for others.
Would you appreciate not being welcomed when you enter a chatroom? Likely not? Then start welcoming the next person you see joining after you. ~ Believe me on this one please, it’s a ripple effect here~ you welcome one person, they’ll always remember it, you’ll be their reminder that yes, maybe not everyone cares enough to pause their chatter for a second to welcome someone in or acknowledge their presence but there was at least one who did and they’ll likely pay it forward with someone else another time.
Would you appreciate being interrupted constantly when you're trying to share a thought? No? Then give others the space to finish their points before jumping in.
Would you appreciate it if someone dismissed your opinion without even considering it? Probably not? Then try to understand different perspectives, even if you don't agree with them. And it’s okay to have different opinions or share diverse views about life and its nuances~ our experiences can be unique, and there’s some beauty in it!
Would you appreciate someone taking credit for your ideas or contributions? Absolutely not? Then always give credit where credit is due and acknowledge others' input.
Would you appreciate being made to feel unintelligent or out of the loop? Unlikely? Then explain things patiently and clearly, and avoid using jargon without context. Introducing a new-joiner with any current topic of discussion/ chat in the room takes less than a minute, but it’s such a gentle way to be kind and to include them in the chat.
Would you like someone criticizing you publicly rather than offering constructive feedback privately? Of course not? Then address issues respectfully and in appropriate settings. There’s report-channels for almost every kind of arrangement and situation here, whenever in doubt ask the community moderator on duty or if it’s the community moderator on duty that you don’t agree with~ not an issue, you can share your honest feedback based on that as well with the community admins!
All of us want someone to *see* us, to make us feel heard, to understand us, to support us, to encourage us, to listen to us, to be patient with us, to not-judge us, to not-belittle our feelings or invalidate our emotions, to be a sounding board for us, to care about us, most importantly to hold space for us~ the great part is that, while wishing for all of that for ourselves, we can continue or at least try, to be this “someone” for others too~ it’s not even about “good karma” but about becoming the example we wanted to see in someone else! 🌻
It's easy to spot things we wish were different, and honestly, it's perfectly okay to feel that frustration, very hooman of us to do that! Sometimes, just acknowledging what's bothering us can be the first step.
But here's the powerful truth: true change begins with you. Think of it this way: you already hold immense power. Every small act, every kind word, every moment you choose to be the presence you want to experience~ that's where the magic happens. Talking about it might help us vent, but it's these collective, small efforts that truly move us forward, I feel!
You have the ability to inspire, to uplift, and to create the kind of environment where everyone feels valued. Let's make that our shared goal. 💛
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
@ASilentObserver I'm in! I got a 20/20. 💜
@ASilentObserver im definitely in! Scored a 20/20
Thank you so much for this obs! Great job with making the quiz. We teenies are very lucky to have you around 🤍
@ASilentObserver
I'm in!
My score is 20/20
i love to see refreshers. we all can use them, no matter how long we've been on the platform! thanks Obs!
@ASilentObserver i did pretty good i got an 18/20 (:
@brendan11
@ASilentObserver
I was ALMOST in, just didn't get the age one right, assumed it was 18+ lol, now I know though 😆. 18/20, I still think that's pretty good