Volume 8, Issue 9, September – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Patterns of WhatsApp usage and its Impact on

Graduate Level Students of Rural Vaijapur
Dist. Aurangabad (MS)
Dr. Sheshrao K. Rathod1
Associate Professor& Head,
Department of Sociology, Vinayakrao Patil Mahavidyalaya Vaijapur,
Dist. Aurangabad, (MS) India

Abstract:- WhatsApp is becoming useful to the any Sharma 2016)1. It has perceived the benefits to maintaining
citizens, employees and businessman. Its popularity is friendship and keeping in touch with friends (Farhan and
gradually increasing in society and students are no Varghese 2018)2. It is useful to make immediate
exception. In this paper we try to understand the communication and coordination among users (Temirlan
patterns of whatsApp usage and its impact on the Jailobaev, and et al. 2012)3WhatsAap have improved their
personality development and overall behaviour of the relationship with friends Shabnam Shaikh et al.2019)4It has
graduate level students. The data has been collected connecting people easier, faster and enhancing effective
from 310 respondents of senior college students with flow of message, sharing ideas among peers (Yeboah, Ewur
structured questionnaire. The findings shows that, 91.29 2014, Irfan and Dhimmar2019)5. whatsAap makes virtual
% respondents are using WhatsApp. 60.32 % of the world, new friendship and improve communications among
respondents say that social relations have become closer people (Shettigar and Karinagannanavar 2016)6. Youths are
because of WhatsApp 87.09% of the respondents say that spending enormous time on social media for entertainment
WhatsApp keeps them informed about world affairs. purpose whereas academic and career related purpose was
61.29% of the respondents said that the amount of books, lagging ( Irfan and Dhimmar2019)7. Issa Omar Malecela8
newspaper reading and watching TV has decreased due concluded that, as learning tool WhatsAap has beneficial to
to mobile phones. 61.93% respondents said they are both students and instructors. Singhal and Chawla9 said that,
addicted by WhatsApp. WhatsApp and Facebook have positive impact in academic
and professional lives of medical students and doctors. It has
Keywords:- Personality, Social Relation, Addiction, increasing collaborative learning and social interactivity
Irritability, Conflict. with peers. Further they noted that whatsApp has negative
impacts on youth and adversely affects their education,
I. INTRODUCTION behaviour and routine lives. The excessive use of social
networking sites for recreational purpose has negative
WhatsApp is one of the most important social media impact on their mental and social health as well as it has
like, other social media in modern society. It is becoming reduced the users’ interpersonal interaction with family and
useful to the any citizens, employees and businessman. friends. According to L. Cetinkaya10 the utility of whatsApp
Because people are using it for messaging, video calling, in education process as a supportive technology because in
advertisement of products and services and communication an education process learning environment is more
information support etc. Hence its popularity is gradually important than whatsApp.
increasing in society and students are no exception. So we
try to understand the patterns of whatsapp usage and its  Objective
impact on the personality development and overall
behaviour of the graduate level students of rural Vijapur.  To understand the usage and impact of WhatsApp mobile
application among the youths of rural Vaijapur.
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE  To identify the degree of positive and negative impacts of
using WhatsApp
“Previously, only friends and lovers tend to possess  To explore the impact of WhatsApp on individuals
robust relationships with intimate conversations but now personal and social relations of the youth.
WhatsApp has created a way of belongingness, intimate
conversations, sharing and exchanging information (Kumar,

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Volume 8, Issue 9, September – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
III. LITERATURE AND METHOD

A quantitative approach is used to conduct research, survey was conducted among randomly selected whatsApp user in rural
Vaijapur with sample size of 310 students between the age group of 18 to 21year students during July –August 2022. All graduate
students willing to participate and give the consent for the study were include.

Table 1 Gender Wise Classification of Respondents

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Male 150 48.38
2 Female 160 51.61
Total 310 100.00

The table shows that out of 310 respondents 48.38% are boys and 51.61% were girls.

Table 2 Faculty Wise Distribution of Respondents

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 BA 89 28.70
2 B.SC 67 21.61
3 B.COM 126 40.64
4 PG 28 9.03
Total 310 100.00
Source: Field Survey

The table shows that 90.97 % are undergraduate students (28.70 % from Arts, 21.61% from Science and 40.64% are from
commerce faculty) while 9.03% of the respondents are postgraduates.

Table 3 Use of Social Media

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Facebook 119 38.38
2 WhatsApp 283 91.29
3 Tutor 49 15.80
4 instagram 21 6.77
5 skypee 30 9.67
6 telegram 150 48.38
7 Blog 3 0.96
8 Other 61 19.67
Total 310 100.00
Source: Field Survey

The chart above shows the social media usage patterns of respondents. A look at the charts shows that 38. 38 % of children
use Facebook. 91.29 % respondents use WhatsApp. 15.80 % .6. 77% Instagram. 9.67% Skype, 48 .38% children use Telegram
channel. Observation of the above tables shows that 0. 96 % use blogs and 19. 67 % other children use social media.

Table 4 Daily use Patterns of WhatsApp

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 1 hours 59 19.03
2 1-2 hour 148 47.74
3 2-3 hours 44 14.19
4 More than 3 hours 59 19.03
Total 310 100.00
Source: Field Survey

The chart above shows the social media usage time of a consumer. A look at the charts shows that 19.03% of the respondents
say they use WhatsApp at least one hour daily. According to 47.74 % respondent they use WhatsApp regularly for 1-2 hours
daily. 14.19 % respondents are using social media WhatsApp for 2-3 hours. Whereas 19.03% respondents say they use WhatsApp
more than three hours daily.

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Volume 8, Issue 9, September – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Table 5 Using WhatsApp in Running Class
Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Yes 29 9.35
2 No 281 90.64
Total 310 100.00

90.64% students say they don't check WhatsApp status while class is going on.

Table 6 WhatsApp Writing Languages

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Marathi 54 17.41
2 Hindi 10 3.22
3 English 35 11.29
4 Marathi in English wording 211 68.06
Total 310 100.00

When the students were asked about the language of writing messages on WhatsApp, the students have shown their response
as follows. 68.06% of the students say that they write using English words from Marathi. 11. 29% students say they write
messages in English language. Among 17.41 % students they write message from Marathi language while only 3.22% students
use Hindi language for message writing.

Table 7 Purpose of Whatsapp use

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Easy to use 87 28.06
2 Useful for communication 103 33.22
3 As time and money savings 75 24.19
4 As the need of the hour 123 39.67
5 As a reputation 41 13.22
6 To spend time 44 14.19
7 To get information 224 72.25
Total 310 100

When we asked the students why they are use WhatsApp or what the purposes of using WhatsApp, the students responded as
follows. 72.25% students say they use WhatsApp for the purpose of getting information. 39.67% students say WhatsApp is the
need of the hour so they feel it is important to use it. 14.19% of students say that they use WhatsApp to pass time. 13.22% of
students indicate that they use it because of today's status or station. 24.19% of students say that the purpose of using WhatsApp is
to save time and money. 30. 22% students use WhatsApp as an important medium for messaging or communication while 28.06%
students use WhatsApp because it is easy to use.

Table 8 Main Purpose of WhatsAap use?

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Sending text messages 143 46.12
2 Sending photos 105 33.87
3 Video sharing 71 22.90
4 Video calling 76 24.51
5 Chanting with friends 136 43.87
6 Other 111 35.80
Total 310 100

When trying to find out what the students use this medium for, the response received from the students is as follows. 46.12%
percent of students say they use WhatsApp to send message test messages. According to 30. 87 percent students use WhatsApp to
send photos. 22.9% students say they share videos among their friends and relatives.24.1 51% students say they use WhatsApp for
video calling. 43. 87% students say they use WhatsApp for chatting with friends and 35.8 80% students say they use WhatsApp
for other reasons.

Table 9 Application of WhatsApp Message

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Changes in habits 115 37.09
2 Acquire new skills 181 58.38
3 Archived favourite messages 79 25.48

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Volume 8, Issue 9, September – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
4 Helped the needy financially 72 23.22
5 None of these 82 26.45
Total 310 100.00

When students were asked if they have changed their behaviour because of a message received or read on WhatsApp, the
students have shown the following responses. According to 37.09% of the students that message has changed the habits of the
students. According to 58.38% students they have acquired new skills. Collected by 25.48% respondents say favourite message
reading. 32.22% of the respondents say that they have helped the needy person. 26.45% of the students say that there is no change
in their behaviour because of the message they read on WhatsApp.

Table 10 Nature of Information Sending on WhatsApp Groups

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 News 133 42.10
2 Jokes 76 24.51
3 quiz questions 50 16.12
4 Inspirational Quotes 78 25.16
5 Advertising 72 23.22
6 Educational information 202 65.16
7 Other 58 18.70
Total 310 100.00

When he was asked about what information he sends through WhatsApp, he responded as follows. 42.10% respondents say
they send news or news to others on WhatsApp. 24.51% respondents mentioned that they send jokes. 16.12% respondents said
that they send information about a competition on WhatsApp. 25.16% of students said that they send motivational or inspirational
lectures or information to others. 23.22% respondents said that they send advertisements in context. Send to others. 65.16% send
educational information to others while 18.70% share other information with others through WhatsApp.

Table 11 Which of the following Actions do you do Every Day on WhatsApp?

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Commenting on other people's messages 109 35.16
2 Changing states 79 25.48
3 Viewing the status of others 119 38.38
4 None of these / others 116 37.41
Total 310 100.00

When the respondents were asked about how they do daily activities on WhatsApp, they gave the following response.
35.16% respondents say they react to messages sent by others. 25.48% respondents say they change their status daily. 38.38% of
the respondents say that they check others' status or DP on WhatsApp while 37.41% of the respondents say that they do not do
any of the above.

Table 12 Reaction to Respond to your Message

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 You view others' last seen updates 56 18.06
2 get angry 43 13.87
3 Constantly thinking the same thing 37 11.93
4 Asking why not answer 70 22.58
5 None of these. 170 54.83
Total 310 100.00

Respondents have shown the following responses when asked how they might react if others do not respond to their
messages. 18.06% respondents say they see the last scene update of the other person.13. 87% respondents say they feel angry with
the other person. 11. 93% of respondents say they constantly wonder why they didn't respond to your message. 22.58% of the
respondents mentioned that they ask the other person why they did not respond to me while 54.83% of the respondents said that
we do not do any of these actions.

Table 13 Impact of WhatsApp use on Respondents

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Supplementary Practice for study 170 54.83
2 Adverse effects on the study 85 27.41
3 Waste of precious time 78 25.16

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Volume 8, Issue 9, September – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
4 Enhancing general knowledge 121 39.03
5 Useful to develop professional skills 107 34.51
Total 310 100.00

54. 83% of students say that WhatsApp is a supplement for studies when asked about the use or benefit of WhatsApp for
students. 27. 41% respondents mention that it affects studies badly. 25.16 % respondents say WhatsApp is wasting valuable time.
39.03% respondents mention that WhatsApp has increased their knowledge. 34.51% respondents say WhatsApp has helped them
develop professional skills.

Table 14 Impact of WhatsApp on Social Relation

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Social relations have become stronger 187 60.32
2 Interference of others has increased in the private life. 83 26.77
3 Mental stress (isolation) has increased 84 27.09
4 Arising Social disputes 78 25.16
5 is a stress relieving medium 92 29.67
Total 310 100.00

When trying to understand the impact of WhatsApp on the social relations of the students, the data shows that, 60.32 % of
the respondents say that social relations have become closer because of WhatsApp. 26.77% respondents mentioned that
WhatsApp has increased interference in social relationships. 27.09% of the respondents said that WhatsApp has increased mental
stress. 25.16% of the respondents said that WhatsApp is causing social conflicts or problems. 29.67% respondents say WhatsApp
reduces stress.

Table 15 Nature of WhatsApp Addiction

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 No 118 38.06
2 Yes 192 61.93
Total 310 100.00

61.93% respondents say they are addicted to WhatsApp. While 38.6 percent respondents say no.

Table 16 Role of WhatsApp in Providing Knowledge of Global Events

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Yes 270 87.09
2 No 40 12.90
Total 310 100.00

87.09% of the respondents say that WhatsApp keeps them informed about world affairs.

Table 17 Nature of Message Checking on WhatsApp

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 No 134 43.22
2 Yes 176 56.77
Total 310 100.00

56.77% of the respondents say that they check WhatsApp in their mobile phone right after waking up. 43.52 percent of the
respondents say that they do not check WhatsApp on their mobile phone after waking up from sleep.

Table 18 Causes for Irritability?

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Forgetting the phone 72 23.22
2 No mobile charging 100 32.25
3 Lack of internet pack 79 25.48
4 Mobile is not running 77 24.83
5 None of these 165 53.22
Total 310 100.00

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Volume 8, Issue 9, September – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
When trying to know if there is any relation between increased irritability among students and mobile, the respondent gave
the following response that 23.22 % of the respondents say that after forgetting their phone at home, their irritability increases.
32.25% of the respondents say that their irritation increases if the mobile phone is not charging. 25.48% of the respondents say
that their irritation increases if there is no internet in their mobile. 24.83 percent of the respondents say that they get irritated if
their mobile phone is not charging. Whereas 53.22% respondents say that they do not feel any of the above types of irritability in
their nature.

Table 19 Impact of Whatsapp on Behaviour

Sr. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage
1 Addicted to mobile usage 102 32.90
2 Decreased book reading 190 61.29
3 Ignored outdoor play 123 39.67
4 The conversation with the man in the house decreased 119 38.38
5 Increased virtual speaking to people who are not nearby 101 32.58
6 Ignore TV and newspapers 153 49.35
Total 310 100.00

When trying to know the changes in the life of students and has led to depression among students. Most of the
due to mobile, the following comes to hand: 32.90% students have admitted that they are addicted to WhatsApp
respondents say that they are subjected or enslaved by today. Therefore, in order to reduce the negative effects of
mobile. 61.29% of the respondents say that the amount of WhatsApp or other social media on students, it is necessary
book reading has decreased. 39.67 % respondents say that to inform them and it is also necessary to create media
playing outdoor sports has decreased. 38.38 percent of the literacy.
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ISSN No:-2456-2165
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