Signal Group Hygiene & Communication Norms

Tools protect messages. Habits protect people.

Signal can provide strong encryption, but most risk doesn't come from broken technology. It comes from how groups share information with each other.

Security culture is the difference between a protected tool and a protected community.

This note focuses on the human layer of communication: how we structure chats, what we share, and how we reduce unnecessary risk for one another.

1. Keep groups small and purpose-bound

Large "everything" chats create noise and accidental oversharing.

Instead, create groups for:

When a group has a clear purpose, people share more thoughtfully.

Small groups are easier to trust and easier to care for.

A short, pinned message can prevent confusion:

This group is for coordinating the field trip only.

Clear boundaries reduce both anxiety and clutter.

People don't have to guess what belongs.

Not every message needs to live forever.

Disappearing messages can:

Letting information decay is often an act of care, not secrecy.

When someone joins a group, explain:

Security culture is learned socially, not configured technically.

When everything feels urgent, nothing is.

Avoid:

Clear, relevant information helps groups make better decisions.

Before sharing, pause:

These small choices protect others from carrying information they don't need to carry.

Healthy communication isn't about secrecy. It's about respect for the people in the conversation.