Why Do People Keep Spamming Group Chats With Useless Information and Forwards?

circular connection
60 minutes ago
2 min read

From health hoaxes to oversharing, group chat spam is taking over conversations. Why do people keep sending things that nobody wants to see?

Screenshot of three forwarded images with videos. Top two show a fruit with "Don't eat this fruit" and a drink with "Don't drink this." Bottom shows a man giving blood, smiling, with "This is harmful to your health."

AI Image: OpenAI

Group Chats or Spam Dumps?

We’ve all experienced it. You open a group chat—maybe it’s family, friends, or even your estate's WhatsApp group—and there it is: yet another forwarded video telling you not to eat bananas at night, or a personal picture of someone broadcasting a good deed like donating blood. You did not ask for it. You did not want it. But here it is, once again.

This kind of group chat spam is not just annoying, it’s constant. But why do people feel the need to send this kind of content? And why do so many of us scroll past it with a silent sigh?

The Psychology Behind Group Chat Spam

There are a few common reasons people continue to spam group chats:

They think they’re being helpful. A video warning about a “dangerous” drink might seem like a public service, even if it is based on zero scientific evidence.
They want recognition. Sharing a personal image of their blood donation or volunteering is often a way to say, “Look at me!” in a socially acceptable way. In the age of social media, even a group chat becomes a performance space.
They want engagement. When someone sends content, especially spam, they may simply want to be noticed, to feel part of the group, or to stir a response.

Why It’s a Problem

A man in a gray shirt looks shocked at his smartphone, hand on head. He sits indoors near a curtain, displaying surprise or disbelief.

AI Image: OpenAI

Group chat spam fills conversations with useless information, making it harder for meaningful messages to be seen or read. It dilutes important communication, especially in chats meant for coordination or updates.

Most people don’t want to call it out directly, so the problem quietly continues. Group chats get permanently muted, messages get ignored, and meaningful communication suffers under the weight of digital clutter.

Can Anything Be Done?

Yes, we can start by setting a culture of digital chat etiquette:

Gently remind the group to fact-check before forwarding.
Ask yourself if the message adds value before hitting “send.”
Reserve personal updates for appropriate spaces, not general groups.

Everyone wants to feel heard. But spamming a group chat is certainly not the way to do it.

Final Thought:

Spam does not belong in your inbox or your group chats. A little mindfulness goes a long way in keeping digital spaces useful, respectful, and readable.

Everyone wants to feel heard. That is what personal chats and social media profiles are for, not group chats meant for shared communication.

Think before you forward—or you can forward this to the chronic spammers.