A study has found that an average person is a part of a whopping 83 different group chats. 

A poll of 2,000 adult social media users revealed that 36% communicate using these chats more than they do in person. 52% opt for group chats instead of phone calls and 26% are more glad to text than have one-on-one conversations. 

The most common themes of group chats were family (66%), friend groups (30%) and night out planning (30%). 

Professor of evolutionary psychology Robin Dunbar, who was a part of this study, commented on these findings by saying, “Maintaining contact with our networks is one of the most important things we can ever do. Not just because they are fun to spend time with, but because research shows that having a small, cohesive group of friends and contacts massively improves our mental health and wellbeing—and even our physical health.”

In addition, the study found that 50% prefer group chats out of convenience of sharing pictures and videos and personal updates (56%). Around 53% favour this way of texting because it’s easy to plan things and 35% opt for it so everyone can hear news at the same time.

6 in 10 say that online chats help them feel more connected with loved ones that live further from them, while 43% reported that their family was brought closer by being a part of a group chat. 23% have even made a new friend with a person they met by being in the same group.