Users on GNU social can create groups that other users can join. Groups can be a great way to share information and entertainment with a group of people who have a common interest or background; who work together on a team; or who have a particular knowledge or skill.
You can find out about groups on the server on the Groups page. You can join a group by clicking on the "Join" button either in the group list or on the group's home page.
When choosing the nickname for your group, try to keep it short. The nickname is sometimes included in messages to and from the group, so the less chars the better. Try using acronyms for organizations, or airport codes for places (like 'pdx' instead of 'portland').
You can send a message to a group using the syntax "!groupName" anywhere in the message. If you have more than one group named, the notice will go to each group. Only members can send notices to a group, and groups do not respond to direct messages (DMs).
The administrator can make a group private. For a private group, all notices will marked as private for group members only. Also, administrators will have to approve all new members to the group.