How to Use the Hand Sign in House Party

Jessie Richardson Read more April 27, 2020

Even those who’ve never used House Party will recognize its famous logo – the yellow waving hand on the red background. It looks as if it’s inviting you to join in the fun and start chatting with your friends.

When you enter the app, you’ll see a similar hand sign next to the names of all your contacts. In this article, we’ll explain what the hand means and how you can use it to enhance your House Party experience.

What Does the Hand Sign Mean?

If you open your contacts list, you’ll see usernames and photos of all your friends. You’ll also be able to see whether they’re currently online or offline.

In addition, you’ll see a small yellow hand sign next to every name, as well as a little green phone sign. If you tap on the hand sign, it means you’re inviting your friend to chat. In turn, they’ll receive a notification that you waved to them. And if they’re free, they can send you a message or call you.

Alternatively, if you click on a small phone sign, the app will call your friend. That’s great if your friend is expecting your call. However, if you’re not sure they can talk right now, it would be better to wave first, just to see how they’re going to react.

Moreover, if your friend’s currently in a call with someone else, you’ll be able to join them. All you have to do is tap on the Join sign next to their name, unless the call is locked.

Difference Between a Wave and a Message

Some people believe that waving and sending a message is the same. Or they might be wondering why they should wave to someone when they can send them a message right away.

Waving can mean many things. Young people prefer it because it’s very informal. You can wave to a friend to show them that you’re there and ready to chat. That way, they can call you whenever they get a chance. No pressure.

Also, if you want to let someone know you’re thinking about them, waving may be the best way to do so. It shows them it’s not urgent. They can answer when they have some free time.

It can also be a good way to show that you miss someone. A simple wave saves you from the awkwardness of trying to put your feelings into words.

Can I Wave to More People?

If you want to let all your friends know that you’re ready to chat, you can wave to all of them. Although there’s no option to wave in private chats automatically, there’s another option you can use.

You can always create a new chat, and add up to eight participants (including yourself). You can do so by tapping on the Plus sign at the top right corner of the screen. Then type the names of friends who you’d like to invite.

You’ve now created a room where you can chat, host video calls, or play games. Again, you’ll see the yellow hand sign among the icons at the bottom of the screen. When you click on it, all participants will get a notification that you’d like to chat.

Difference Between a House Party Hand and a Facebook Wave

The waving hand isn’t a new concept by any means. We’ve seen it on many messaging apps, such as Facebook Messenger. However, it can have a very different meaning. On Facebook, you can wave to someone who’s not on your contact list. Maybe you’ve just sent them a request, but don’t intend to add them as a friend.

Whereas the House Party hand serves to wave to people you’ve already chatted with, or with whom you plan to start a call. It’s a bit more personal. In contrast, waving on other apps can mean just about anything.

Simple and Fast Way to Chat

We all tend to simplify our daily tasks, and this applies to our conversations as well. The House Party app is perfect for people who want to contact their friends with only one click. Young people prefer this way of communication, but there’s no age limit on those who use the app.

After all, we all want to stay in touch with our friends even though we may not live in the same town. Have you already tried the House Party app? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments section below.