Rise of social media in the digital age: Whatsapp a threat to effective communication

Abstract

Social media platforms have revolutionised the way individuals interact, communicate, and share information. These platforms "have been taken up around the globe at an unprecedented speed, revealing the extraordinary nature of the social media phenomenon" as traditional media's power declines. With their ease of accessibility and user-friendly interfaces, these social media platforms facilitate instant communication, information sharing, and networking opportunities. Little attention has been paid to the rise of social media in the digital age as a threat to effective communication. Therefore, the overarching problem to be addressed in this research is to examine how the rise of social media in the digital age poses a significant threat to effective communication. Technological determinism theory formed the basis for the study and focus group discussion was used for data gathering, with thirty (30) participants selected purposively from each department in the eight faculties to serve the purpose of this study. Also, eight (8) focus group interviews were conducted at Redeemer's University. Findings revealed that WhatsApp is a good primary mode of communication and using WhatsApp daily often gives room for both personal and professional communication. Further findings shows that WhatsApp is integral to daily interactions, allowing respondents to connect with friends from different parts of the world effortlessly. Hence, this study concluded that WhatsApp undoubtedly offers unparalleled convenience and connectivity in the digital age, yet its widespread usage raises pertinent concerns regarding effective communication