Texting is something that should make keeping in touch with people easier, but it can do the opposite, causing stressful or confusing communication, like when someone only wants to send emojis or can’t spell to save a fifth grader’s life. Yikes. If you’re guilty of any of these 18 bad texting habits, you need to stop because they’re frustrating everyone in your group chat.
1. Double texting
This is a texting faux pas that’s been around for ages, but it’s just as annoying as ever! If you send someone a text and they don’t reply within a few minutes or hours, it’s clingy to send them the same text again. What, like they never read it the first time? Maybe they just don’t know what to reply or they’re busy! Don’t come across as insecure and desperate. Give them a chance to figure out what they want to say.
2. Writing text novels
When you reply to someone’s message, you don’t send a quick message, but an entire block of text that could pass as a novel. It’s just too much! When the recipient opens their phone, they’re going to have to brace themselves and maybe drink a martini before they can take on the mammoth task of reading your message. People are busy and simply don’t have time to read novels on the go. Be clear and concise – they’ll appreciate it.
3. Emoji overkill
Using too many pictures in your texts makes you come across as childish or confusing because it’s not always easy to know what you’re trying to say. Even if it’s pretty clear from your emojis what you’re saying, it’s so generic to send a “happy face” emoji or “love-eyes” emoji instead of explaining what you really think or feel. Be unique and detailed! Don’t rely on pictures because it comes across as not caring enough to make an effort.
4. Texting to say you called
If you tried to call someone, their phone will alert them that you’ve left them three missed calls. You don’t have to also send a text telling them that you tried to call them but they weren’t available. It’s just too much! It would be the real-world equivalent of knocking on their front door and then trying to open their windows when they didn’t answer. Yup, a tad stalker-ish.
5. Being a “textertunist”
A “textertunist,” or texting opportunist, is someone who only replies to another person’s texts when they need something. So, if your friend texts you to see how you’re doing, you leave them on “read” for two days and only reply when you need to get a cocktail recipe from them. It’s dodgy ’cause it makes people feel like you’re only using them when it’s convenient.
6. “Blind spot” texting
If you’re a “blind spot texter” you’re someone who only answers some parts of texts and ignores others. So, if your friend asks you about your recent date and how work’s going, you’ll only answer one of those questions and leave them hanging on the other topic. It’s weird and confusing. If you’re doing this all the time, it makes people feel like you’re not invested in the relationship because you’re putting up emotional walls.
7. Group chat blasting
Group chats are super-annoying when some members use it as a platform from which to blast news about their businesses. So, they’ll enter the group chat and advertise their company or services, not once but all the time. If you’re constantly interrupting other people’s conversations with self-promotion, it comes across as rude, especially if you don’t use the group chat for anything else.
8. Bad spelling
Sorry, but there’s no excuse for horrible spelling in text messages. Yes, you’re writing things in a hurry and want to get to the point, but use your phone’s spell-check function – seriously, it’s right there to help you. If you don’t put in some effort to spell words correctly, you’re not making much of an effort. It comes across as lazy or like you just don’t care about the impression you’re making on others.
9. “Sentence drilling”
“Sentence drilling” is when you send a new sentence in a new message. So, if you send a long text containing three sentences, you’re going to split the sentences into three messages. The problem with this is that the person’s phone will be beeping so much more than is necessary, giving them the idea that there’s something super-urgent on their phone. Meanwhile, you’re just telling them about your weekend. What? Use a paragraph break within the same message so you only send one text, please.
10. Texting while talking in person
When chatting to someone in person, it’s so rude to reach for your phone and text someone else. Talk about dissing the person who’s trying to have a real conversation with you! This is texting behavior that’s got to stop, unless you’re trying to put the person off on purpose. Oh, and saying, “Sorry, I’ve just got to reply to this real quick” isn’t enough to enable you to get away with it.
11. Dodging questions
It’s so annoying when you answer someone’s questions via text and then you don’t reciprocate by giving them info about yourself. Maybe you end the chat or leave them on “read,” making them feel like you’re not actually interested in opening up to them. It’s so rude! It makes them feel like you’re trying to collect information from them because you’re after some juicy gossip, not having a real conversation.
12. Picking fights via text
You should never have an argument with someone via text. Save the difficult conversations for in-person communication so that it’s easier to read each other’s body language and get to the bottom of issues instead of causing misunderstandings. You never know what the other person’s busy with when you drop them a heavy text. It’s all about choosing the right time when you can both engage in the conversation. So, even if a problem is biting your brain, resist the temptation to blurt it out.
13. Sending memes daily
There are tons of cool memes online on a daily basis and chances are you want to share them with loved ones. Well, that’s fun, but you shouldn’t do this all the time ’cause it’s annoying. It’s like you’re flooding everyone’s WhatsApp with memes that you find funny, and you expect them to laugh every time. Ugh. While the random meme is entertaining, flooding people’s phones with daily memes can feel like you’re wasting their time.
14. Texting “hey”
If you ghost someone and then pop up weeks later with a “hey” message, you need to put your phone away and go on a texting sabbatical for a month. Seriously. This is so frustrating to deal with because you’re coming across as entitled, expecting to have people there to entertain you whenever it’s convenient for you. What does “hey” even mean?! Are you keen on having a quick chat or are you back for good?
15. Using voice messages
What’s worse than sending someone blocks of text? Loving the sound of your voice so much that you only communicate in voice notes. Um, who has time to listen to those? Voice notes are annoying because you can’t skim a written text to get the gist of it. If the voice note contains important info, it’s easy to miss some of it, like if you’re driving. This means you have to replay it, which takes up even more of your time. Ugh.
16. Calling after a text
Someone sends you a text and instead of replying to it, you call them. Um, what? In this day and age, there’s hardly a reason to voice or video call someone. Read the room! If someone you’ve met texts you, that’s probably how they feel comfortable communicating. Don’t put them on the spot by calling them. It’s too much way too soon.
17. Birthday texting
We all have those people in our contacts who only text us on our birthday. On the one hand, it’s pretty cool that they’re still our Meta friend because they conveniently remember our birthday every year. On the other, it’s kinda weird because it’s the one day of the year when they seem like they really care about us. If you do this, consider if it’s even worth texting on the person’s birthday if you’re not talking to them for the other 364 days of the year. Maybe a message on their Meta wall is enough.
18. Free therapy texting
If you need to vent to someone about your problems, avoid too much of this via text, even if the person’s supportive and willing to lend a golden ear. It makes it seem like you’re trying to score free therapy sessions, while disregarding their need for time and space. While it’s good to express yourself, you don’t need to trauma dump on others. Also, save the heavy topics for when you see them, okay?
