Today’s “WhatsApp generation” spends hours glued to their phones, endlessly scrolling, chatting, and debating. While much has been said about the dangers of this tech-driven lifestyle, the most damaging consequence, in my view, is the apathy it has created.
In the past, communal discussions had a clear purpose: solving problems. For example, when Rav Avraham Pam zt”l highlighted the struggles of Jewish Russians integrating into frum life after the fall of the Soviet Union, the community responded. Within weeks, Shuvu was founded, providing education and resources to thousands.
Contrast that with today. At the Agudah Convention this past weekend, crucial issues like the cost of living were discussed. Yet these same topics have been addressed repeatedly over the years with little meaningful action. These events have become platforms for intellectual posturing rather than catalysts for real change. These same topics have been addressed year after year, and little meaningful action has resulted. Instead, the convention has become a platform for soundbites.
Every year, clips of speakers go viral, sparking widespread conversation. For a few days, everyone talks about what was said—praising it, debating it, or even ridiculing it. But then the buzz fades, and people move on. They either return to complaining about the same issues without taking action, or they shift to discussing some other problem entirely. And the original issues? They remain unresolved, year after year. So, why has the drive to act disappeared?
The answer, I believe, lies in a psychological phenomenon known as the Bystander Effect. This occurs when individuals in a group are less likely to act because they assume someone else will step up. When surrounded by inactivity, people begin to believe there’s no real urgency or that someone else is already addressing the problem. Add to this the social pressures of appearing too forward or being judged for speaking out, and inaction becomes the norm.
This dynamic has found a perfect breeding ground on WhatsApp. Group chats, with hundreds of participants, are filled with debates about pressing communal issues, but the conversations rarely translate into action. Everyone assumes someone else will take charge, and as a result, nothing gets done. These endless discussions create an illusion of engagement while leaving the underlying problems untouched. Or, worse, some aspiring people shy away from taking charge because they know that, inevitably, they will be attacked mercilessly for their attempts to fix the problem in a way that some random WhatsApp group administrator doesn’t agree with.
This isn’t just a tech problem; it reflects a cultural shift. We’ve become a community more focused on talking than doing. When challenges like rising housing costs or tuition crises arise, we stew over them, debate them, and even joke about them—but rarely do we mobilize to address them.
Compare this to the past, when leaders like Rav Pam inspired immediate action. The difference wasn’t just the leadership but the collective willingness to step up and take responsibility. Today, that sense of urgency has been dulled by the digital echo chamber where we discuss everything but resolve nothing.
The stakes are too high for us to remain idle. Close the app. Step away from the endless chatter. The time to act is now. Stop waiting for someone else to take responsibility and start working together to solve the issues threatening our community.
Name withheld upon request
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26 Responses
Great point. And you know what will happen from reading this? More comments either agreeing or disagreeing or mocking, and nothing will get done. But some things don’t have a solution. The cost of living being too high is not a problem anyone could solve. We are all suffering for it and will continue. Maybe it’s just venting
I don’t think WhatsApp caused these problems of people not stepping up.
I think there’s always people who step up and always people who feel inadequate and phone use hasn’t changed that . I think it’s more an issue of, many people today are so overwhelmed just trying to make a living. I don’t think a guy who can’t make ends meet is going to spearhead an organization to solve the tuition crisis. Big businessmen are also quite busy. Finding someone who is willing, capable, confident and has the time to invest is a tall order.
So u want nasty comments…agudah this agudah that , I’m not an agudist but let’s be fair, true or false
Agudah did not make any of the klal problems discussed
No sane person thinks you can solve real issues in a 59 min workshop with 3ppl doing intros and bios
The fact that the dais is shvach is because many rabonim are elderly and carry a lot of personal responsibility
There were some speeches that bothered me, but there was a lot of good points for me to work on…watch it again
Most of us give less than $18 a year to agudah, I’m not sure why
There was a great panel at the Agudah Convention titled “Social Media and the World of WhatsApp: How do we win the battle?”
Or there was nothing said by all the hot button topics other than vague ideas. If the leaders won’t lead them how do you expect a random person to cause change.
If I’m not mistaken solutions were given regarding whatsapp by r rotbart and r kestenbaum for example removing yourself from harmful chats and keeping busy with positive things. Hatzlacha!
Foolish letter.
The ‘cost of living’ issue won’t be solved because the only acceptable solution is for most people is to become wealthy. No one is interested in living within their means. If I can’t afford a nice chasuna, then you shouldn’t make one either. The only solution is to listen to the Torah; לא תחמוד.
Only a total shoita thinks things were not accomplished at the convention. Hundreds of mental health professionals had a major session on Thursday. Alot was accomplished. the only thing not accomplished was a mental health cure for mega narcissist nig-nog.
So why don’t YOU the author who wrote this letter STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION about these issues? You seem to care the most about these issues and can’t believe that we can actually be living in a generation currently living in denial instead of FACING REALITY when serious issues like these come up.
Step up to the plate and get involved immediately rather it’s the tuition crisis or the wedding making crisis etc …… And others will IYH join you once they see that someone like you has stepped up to the plate like Rav Pam ZTL to do something IMMEDIATELY about these issues
Nothing like back-benchers sitting on their couches firing off angry messages and literally convincing themselves that they are saving klal yisroel.
It’s nothing new.
@Sam Klein – Do you know that he’s not?
Of course not. Just another guy blabbering away.
Klal Yisroel is no longer run by gedolim. When will everyone wake up and realize that. It’s run by people on their cell phones in lakewood.
Facts matter.
Do you actually think Rav Uren Reich or Rav Elya Brudny or Rav Aharon Feldman actually deal with issues in klal yisroel? Of course not. Stop being naive.
It’s all people on whatsapp who get things done.
Great letter. I am disgusted by some of the things I have seen recently on WhatsApp. Anything goes. ANYTHING. Zero shame. Just shooting off anything. One group admin posted a totally fake dinner invitation for mirrer yeshiva and wrote the words “nice to see mirrer yeshiva honoring a seme gender couple”.
These are the manhigei hador.
I actually think noise maker accomplish things. Takes time. But they get things done
Nothing new here. I’m on a chat with fellow parents in a yeshiva (about rides, car pool, events etc). It descended into a bashing fest against the yeshiva.
This behavior comes from one person in Lakewood. How do i know? Because his messages were forwarded onto this totally clean kosher yeshiva chat, and a minute later it descended into a horrific cess pool of rechilus, motzei shem ra and motzei shem ra. I pity these people, and pity the person who is responsible.
I’m trying to really understand this. Are you saying that when people discuss face to face, knowing who and who is involved, then you see clearly if action is taken or not, and if not you might step up, but when no one sees who and how many are involved then one is less likely to feel the need to step up? – interesting point.
Well then the solution is quite simple. If you really want to solve something, do it face to face, or בדיעבד on zoom.
But are you saying people actually rely on chats to solve real problems? really? I’m not sure this is the root of the generational problem. Seems too shallow.
Level headed people actually make change. And no, they dont blabber about it on WhatsApp. The greatest and most active askonim in any community in klal yisroel, dont scream on their whatsapp chats about nonsense. They get things done.
I agree with the letter. All this chatting is just a waste of time. However, I don’t think it has contributed to the bystander effect..I think we chat because we don’t know even know where to begin to address the issues that we face…we feel powerless and overwhelmed..
What we need is to devote more time in Yeshivos to learn Misser Seforim.
The Gashmios lifestyle is out of hand and this is a major cause why so many people are struggling financially. When ever I go shopping at the supermarket I see couples stuffing their carts with so much Nash and disposable expensive dishes. There is No making a Cheshbon that the end of the month his Credit card bill is due for payment.
What’s with buying Summer homes for 7-800 thousand dollars for 9 weeks.?
There is still a major Tzibir out there who watch every penny but the minority is getting much larger.
Nothing in life ever got solved by a WhatsApp chat. It’s a breeding ground for slander and gossip, so many seemingly innocent chats ended up being a cesspool of slandering gossip. People that don’t have to face each other often say things they wouldn’t normally have the guts to say in person, and that’s what you find online. Imagine yeshiva parents slandering a school on their chats! This is what the frum world has fallen to chaval. You have a problem with a teacher or rabbi? Go to the office and discuss it. You don’t have to spread your hate to other parents like a coward. Go face them. Unfortunately that’s the easy way out WhatsApp has given many. It’s never productive most of the time. I would advise that if you’re in any chats that resort to this low Behavior, you should leave and don’t look back. You don’t want to be found in that camp on Yom Hadin
If every person chatting on this letter and all our brothers in klal yisroel together would stop living in denial and instead FACE REALITY AND TRUTH then we would not have to be facing these issues currently hitting klal yisroel from the shidduch crisis to the tuition crisis and all the other issues etc….. it’s pains the person the most who knows that it could’ve all been avoided if klal yisroel would finally wake up and FACE REALITY as one loving nation with serious teshuva and Achdus together like we did in the story of Purim and our lives were saved because of it and then Hashem would be able to send mashiach immediately SO WE WOULDN’T HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH THESE CRISIS ISSUES cause we would all be in Jerusalem with the bais hamikdosh
@rebEmes – “Nothing in life ever got solved by a WhatsApp chat.”
Wanna bet?
Know how many lives were destroyed? That’s solving things. One chat I know if does this constantly. Loaded with rechilus and motzei shem ra. That’s solving things my friend.
All in the name of “askanus” and “getting things done”. Because after all, no shulchan aruch can get in the way of a narcissist.
Not clear if the poster is complaining about the people leading the Agudah session or listening to them. What is the point of running a session on topic_____ if there is no time allotted for solutions? Why not say at the outset “we will kvetch for 30 minutes, give nothing but solutions for 20 minutes and formulate our plan of action in the last 10 minutes?
Anyone know what a used car salesman talks like?
Yea. That’s the people making noise on these chats. A bunch of truck drivers.
Editorial without name on it, is not to be taken seriously, it is only written to generate controversy, get people worked up, gossip, pure and simple.
Signed
Dovid Richter
I am glad that Name withheld upon request had the courage to speak out about this. The best way for an issue to be taken from the discussing and complaining stage to the action stage is to get a dedicated campaign of its own. Unfortunately there are many contemporary issues that are deserving of this level of attention. I believe that in many ways, the cost of living is a key issue that for which a solution can impact all the others at least partially. How can we make things like weddings, Yeshiva tuition, the clothing that frum people wear, kosher food etc etc more economical and their production more efficient? I don’t have answers but perhaps it’s time for an Asifa about this.