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Is It Time to Delete Your Group Chats? | TIME

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Acouple of weeks ago, my friend wrote a message in our group chat, announcing that he’s moving to Newcastle—somewhere I love but rarely go. The initial flicker of excitement to visit the North East of England again was quickly countered by a pang of sadness. We barely see each other now, in London, so what’s going to change when he’s 300 miles away? Around the same time, in a different group, my friend who already lives in Islamabad shared news of a new job. Another posted pictures of his one-year-old son, who I still haven’t met. Moments like these remind me that life keeps moving forward, even when we’re not around to witness it. Advertisement Advertisement I talk to my closest friends every day. It’s not always direct. Sometimes, it’s just reading their messages, reacting with an emoji, or book-ending a meme bonanza with “haha.” But it is every day. Group chats—I’ve got three what I’d call “core” collections of friends—feel alive. They’re like hallways we all pass through, but we ha

A couple of weeks ago, my friend wrote a message in our group chat, announcing that he’s moving to Newcastle—somewhere I love but rarely go. The initial flicker of excitement to visit the North East of England again was quickly countered by a pang of sadness. We barely see each other now, in London, so what’s going to change when he’s 300 miles away? Around the same time, in a different group, my friend who already lives in Islamabad shared news of a new job. Another posted pictures of his one-year-old son, who I still haven’t met. Moments like these remind me that life keeps moving forward, e

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