Why Group Chats Feel So Exhausting (And What To Do About It)
About this episode
The episode explores the overwhelming nature of group chats and offers strategies for healthier digital communication.
You know that feeling when you open your group chat and there are 287 unread messages... so you immediately close it again? Whether you're the ghost who never replies, the lurker silently catching up on conversations, or the friend who feels guilty every time they leave someone on read, you're not alone. Group chats were supposed to make us feel more connected, so why do they leave so many of us feeling overwhelmed instead? In this episode of But Are You Happy? , host Ashani Dante is joined by Milly Rose Bannister, award-winning founder of the youth mental health charity ALLKND, to unpack the hidden psychology behind group chat overwhelm and why staying connected can sometimes feel like another item on your to-do list. Together, they explore why our brains aren't built for constant digital communication, the fear of social rejection that keeps us checking our notifications, and the emotional labour involved in reading tone, self-editing and trying to keep everyone happy. The conversation also explores why women often carry the invisible mental load of staying socially connected, how digital communication can fuel overthinking and social anxiety, and why conflict is so much harder…
Topics covered
- group chats
- mental health
- digital communication
- social anxiety
- emotional labour
- boundaries
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