How To Join A Text Group
The HNA WhatsApp groups are "closed groups," which means that only Admins can add people (to ensure maximum privacy by limiting it strictly to just our neighborhood). To be added to the group, complete the following steps (if you already have WhatsApp on your phone, skip to STEP 5):
Need tech support to help set this up on your phone? Let us know - someone will help you.
- STEP 1: Download the WhatsApp application for your phone, and set up an account. The app is free.
- STEP 2: Allow access to contacts. This is not necessary, but allowing the app to access your contacts means that the people you do know in the neighborhood who participate in the group will show up by name, not just phone number.
- STEP 3: ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS. This is necessary. Allowing notifications means that messages sent through our group will pop up on your phone, just like a text message with a sound (you can choose the sound). Tapping on the message that pops up will open the app for you in case you need to reply. If you don't allow notifications, you will have to open the app to view messages.
- STEP 4: (iPhone users) "Skip Restore" setting the icloud backup. If you're only using the app to participate in neighborhood emergency notifications, then this really isn't necessary.
- Step 5: Email us at [email protected], subject "WhatsApp," and let us know what you have the app and you want to be added to the the various groups. Be sure to include your name and your cell number, and we will add you to the groups of your choice. If you do not specify a group, we will add you to all of them.
Need tech support to help set this up on your phone? Let us know - someone will help you.
FAQ's
Q1: Can I silence a group?
A: Yes! If you find a particular message session is not relevant to you (perhaps you're traveling and you don't care about a bear sighting), you can easily mute the conversation! On the "chats" screen, swipe left on our group name, and you should see options for "more" and "archive." Select "more," and in the popup window, select "mute." It will then give you the option to mute the conversation for 8 hours, 1 week, or 1 year. You can also access the mute feature under the "Group Info" page.
Q2: Why can't we just do a normal text message? Why do I have to download an app?
A: Our original plan was to just do a large group message, but then our teenagers told us that group text messages are limited to 20 people. Maybe it's an iPhone limit, or maybe a Verizon limit. Either way, it's not enough to meet the needs for a neighborhood group text message.
Q3: How do I know if something qualifies as an "urgent" message for the Emergency Group?
A: The short answer is to use your own judgement and ask yourself if the information you have to share is something you would want to know ASAP, or could it wait to be seen via email. Information about a wallet you found on the street could probably be sent via email. Information about an angry raccoon running around in the middle of the day should probably be shared immediately.
Q4: What if I want to be removed from the group.
A: You can remove yourself: Open the App. Click the "Chats" icon at the bottom of your screen, then tap the name of our group. In the top bar where it says "Highlands Emergency Text," tap the name of our group to bring up the "Group Info" screen. Scroll all the way to bottom and click "Exit Group."
Q5: How do I see the other participants in the group?
A: Only members of the group can see group participants, so you have to be added to the group first. If you have been added, and you want to see the full list, follow the steps above in Q7 to get to the "Group Info" screen, scroll down until you see "Participants." There you will see a list of phone numbers (or names if you have those numbers stored as contacts in your phone) of everyone participating in the group.
Q6: Can I message someone directly without messaging the entire group?
A: Yes. You can message anyone directly by tapping their number/name from the participants section and selecting "send message." This should start a new, separate thread between you and that person/those people.
Q7: What if I have a question for a group Admin?
A: Reach out to Cate, Illysia and/or Stephanie either via text message, email, or even via WhatsApp.
Q8: My neighbor/spouse/teen wants to join, can I add them?
A: All residents of the Highlands may join this group, but they must be added by an Admin. See "Step 5" in Section 2 above.
Q9: Why did you pick WhatsApp?
A: We really wanted a solution that would work WITHOUT downloading an app, so we first tested an app called GroupMe, which allows messages to be sent via app OR via SMS (no app required to participate). However, in testing this out in a small group where 2 of us used the app and 2 of us used SMS, it was very awkward. The SMS messages were garbled with weird symbols if the message came from an app user. Photos sent by an SMS user couldn't be viewed by an app user, and vice vera. We realized the best solution would require all of us to use the same platform. Since WhatsApp is already widely used by a significant number of people in the neighborhood, we felt it would be easiest to just move forward with that one.
A: Yes! If you find a particular message session is not relevant to you (perhaps you're traveling and you don't care about a bear sighting), you can easily mute the conversation! On the "chats" screen, swipe left on our group name, and you should see options for "more" and "archive." Select "more," and in the popup window, select "mute." It will then give you the option to mute the conversation for 8 hours, 1 week, or 1 year. You can also access the mute feature under the "Group Info" page.
Q2: Why can't we just do a normal text message? Why do I have to download an app?
A: Our original plan was to just do a large group message, but then our teenagers told us that group text messages are limited to 20 people. Maybe it's an iPhone limit, or maybe a Verizon limit. Either way, it's not enough to meet the needs for a neighborhood group text message.
Q3: How do I know if something qualifies as an "urgent" message for the Emergency Group?
A: The short answer is to use your own judgement and ask yourself if the information you have to share is something you would want to know ASAP, or could it wait to be seen via email. Information about a wallet you found on the street could probably be sent via email. Information about an angry raccoon running around in the middle of the day should probably be shared immediately.
Q4: What if I want to be removed from the group.
A: You can remove yourself: Open the App. Click the "Chats" icon at the bottom of your screen, then tap the name of our group. In the top bar where it says "Highlands Emergency Text," tap the name of our group to bring up the "Group Info" screen. Scroll all the way to bottom and click "Exit Group."
Q5: How do I see the other participants in the group?
A: Only members of the group can see group participants, so you have to be added to the group first. If you have been added, and you want to see the full list, follow the steps above in Q7 to get to the "Group Info" screen, scroll down until you see "Participants." There you will see a list of phone numbers (or names if you have those numbers stored as contacts in your phone) of everyone participating in the group.
Q6: Can I message someone directly without messaging the entire group?
A: Yes. You can message anyone directly by tapping their number/name from the participants section and selecting "send message." This should start a new, separate thread between you and that person/those people.
Q7: What if I have a question for a group Admin?
A: Reach out to Cate, Illysia and/or Stephanie either via text message, email, or even via WhatsApp.
Q8: My neighbor/spouse/teen wants to join, can I add them?
A: All residents of the Highlands may join this group, but they must be added by an Admin. See "Step 5" in Section 2 above.
Q9: Why did you pick WhatsApp?
A: We really wanted a solution that would work WITHOUT downloading an app, so we first tested an app called GroupMe, which allows messages to be sent via app OR via SMS (no app required to participate). However, in testing this out in a small group where 2 of us used the app and 2 of us used SMS, it was very awkward. The SMS messages were garbled with weird symbols if the message came from an app user. Photos sent by an SMS user couldn't be viewed by an app user, and vice vera. We realized the best solution would require all of us to use the same platform. Since WhatsApp is already widely used by a significant number of people in the neighborhood, we felt it would be easiest to just move forward with that one.