Explain
Why we yawn in terms of a notification on the group chat
A yawn is just the brain sending a group chat notification that everyone else feels obligated to open.
When you see a colleague let out a jaw-cracking yawn, they have essentially tagged you in a viral meme of exhaustion. Your brain receives this ping, feels a social pressure to acknowledge the sender, and dutifully performs the exact same manoeuvre. It is an involuntary synchronisation ritual, as if we are all members of a WhatsApp group for tired people where leaving the conversation is considered a bit rude. You do not yawn because your lungs are crying out for air, but because the collective vibe has shifted to "mildly lethargic" and you have been marked as read.
Scientists remain baffled as to why this notification exists, debating whether it is a cooling mechanism for an overheated brain or just a way to keep the pack alert during a boring afternoon. It is the physiological equivalent of someone sending a thumbs-up emoji to confirm they are still conscious. Like a notification that refuses to be cleared, the yawn persists until every person in the room has participated in the thread, ensuring that no one is left out of the general malaise. By the time the third person has joined in, the meeting has effectively been derailed by a collective lack of purpose.
Where the analogy breaks downA group chat notification can be muted to save your sanity, whereas a yawn will inevitably force your mouth open regardless of your desire to remain professional.