Private group chats are the new social networks. It's apples and oranges but I think for people that really don't want to be "on social media" the alternative is to keep engagement with close friends on a group-by-group basis.

So whatever they share on there is how I get my social-media awareness. It's basically intentionally a very very narrow filter. It has to be.

Then, subscribe to paid publications, journalism, podcasts, newsletters.

Agreed.

And I feel society could go further in acknowledging the evolution of social networks.

They border on surrogate families, at this point.

Q: So, are there terms for the rules which are implicit or explicit, that apply to joiners of these private chat groups? Pseudo-kids?