From The Ghoster to The Flake, new research reveals the characters, chaos and calendar politics behind modern friendshipTuesday 3 November 2026A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action: The plans that never make it out of the group chat
Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Brits treat group chats as the foundation of their social plans, with the average Brit contributing to 151 group chats a year
Gen Z are the group chat generation, with 81% saying their social lives rely on messages, polls, and quick-fire replies
Almost half of Brits (47%) currently have a social plan stuck in the group chat, with staycations (27%), pub catch-ups (25%) and birthdays (20%) among the activities most likely to be discussed, but never booked
The study identifies the nation's unwritten group chat rules and characters, from The Organiser who's already made the itinerary, The Flake who's just seen this , and The Instigator who constantly suggests plans but always leaves someone else to organise them
Sky Mobile's 99% UK network coverage and flexible benefits, including Mix and Roll, help customers stay connected to the chats, plans and last-minute gossip
Almost half of Brits (47%) currently have a social plan stuck in the group chat, as new research reveals how the humble group chat has become the unofficial headquarters of modern friendships - even if many plans never make it beyond the screen.
With 71% of the nation using group chats to organise their social lives, the average person contributes to at least 151 group chats a year as messages, polls and promises to get something in the diary become part of everyday life.
From the pub catch-up no one has picked a date for, the birthday dinner awaiting a poll response, and the weekend away that has been definitely happening for years, research commissioned by Sky Mobile reveals which plans are most likely to die in the group chat, the personalities behind them, and the unwritten rules we're all expected to follow.
These chats have become a constant presence in people's social lives, with Brits checking them an average of four times a day and sending around 18 messages to organise an occasion.
Over a third (38%) say agreeing on a date is the biggest barrier to making plans happen, while getting everyone to commit (18%), and people taking too long to reply (10%) put the stopper on plans happening IRL.
Behind every plan that stalls is a familiar cast of group chat characters. Among them is The Yapper who sends long voice notes on everything but the plans; The Ghoster who reads every message but rarely replies; and The Flake, who commits enthusiastically before dropping out.
When asked which character they relate to most, more than a third of Brits (36%) admit they're the I'm Easy Friend, while one in five (21%) identify as The Organiser and 14% as The Ghoster.
The cast of the stereotypical group chat characters are:
The Organiser - the powerhouse who turns ideas into reality.
The I'm Easy Friend - the nonchalant one whose hidden preferences are a hindrance to plans.
The Ghoster - the silent member who reads every message, never replies, but shows up for every occasion.
The Last-Minute Responder - the one who responds to arrangements at the last minute after the plan has been formed.
The Meme Machine - the person who communicates almost entirely in memes, GIFs, TikToks, and screenshots.
The Flake - the one who is enthusiastic until something major comes up and, as always, drops out at the last second.
The Yapper - the one who sends long voice notes and paragraphs on topics completely unrelated to the plan.
The Instigator - the person who constantly suggests plans but leaves everyone else to organise them.
With so much of the nations' social lives playing out in the group chat, there are plenty of unwritten rules to follow. Over a third (36%) believe never committing to plans is the biggest group chat faux pas, with 22% disappointed by that friend who suggests a plan only to leave someone else to organise it, and 21% let down by friends who forget to reply altogether.
Despite the missed messages and abandoned polls, group chats remain key to keeping friendships going, with 57% saying they help them stay connected. However, staying in the loop isn't always easy, as 62% have missed an important update after running out of mobile data, while almost 1 in 10 (9%) have been caught out by a last-minute change when they couldn't get online.
How Brits organise their social lives also varies by generation. Gen Z, aged 18-24, are the most group-chat-led generation, with 81% of 18-24-year-olds saying their social lives rely on a poll, message or quick-fire reply. In contrast, those aged 55 - 64 are more likely to prefer direct forms of communication, including calling friends on the phone (37%), emailing (10%), or individually texting (30%).
Ben Case, Managing Director of Connectivity at Sky, says: We're all familiar with group chats where the messages keep coming but the plan never quite gets made. Whether you're sorting the date, chasing the group or dealing with a last-minute change, Sky Mobiles flexible plans and data rollover help you stay connected to the people and plans that matter
With 99% network coverage across the UK, and flexible benefits including Mix and Roll, Sky Mobile customers can roll spare data into their Piggybank for when they need it most and move to a smaller or bigger data plan whenever they want, helping them stay connected to every group chat with ease.
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact emily.mckay@taylorherring.com
Sky Mobile network benefits at a glance:
Roam - take your data allowance abroad in 120 destinations for just £2 a day, or at no extra cost for Sky VIP Diamond customers
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