Trends and Impact of WhatsApp as a Mode of Communication among Abu Dhabi Students

AMMAARAH KOOTBODIEN, NUNNA VENKATA PRASAD & MUHAMAD SHAM BIN SHAHKAT ALI
Abu Dhabi University, UAE

Abstract
Online communication platforms have enabled millions of users to easily communicate with one another. WhatsApp is one of the most popular communication platforms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially among university students. To better understand the effectiveness of WhatsApp, this research examines the trends and impact of WhatsApp usage among undergraduate university students in Abu Dhabi. The study also investigates the use of emoji and text messages as a replacement to the interpersonal communication that conventionally occurs in the process of face-to-face interaction. By means of a survey, this study found that Abu Dhabi University students consider WhatsApp to be an effective interpersonal communication medium. Although miscommunications often occur while using WhatsApp, the perceptions of the respondents varied greatly due to their own experiences and feelings regarding its use.

Keywords: WhatsApp, interpersonal communication, medium, miscommunication, university students

References

Acar, A. (2014). Culture and Social Media: An Elementary Textbook (1). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Allagui, B. (2014). Writing through WhatsApp: an evaluation of students writing performance. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, Volume 8, Issue 3-4 .
Allagui, I., & Breslow, H. (n.d.). The Internet and The Evolving U.A.E. : The Emirates Internet Project – Year II. Retrieved from American Univeristy of Sharjah.
Arabiancampus. (2016, May 7). List of Universities & Colleges in UAE – Alphabetical List. Retrieved from arabiancampus.com: http://www.arabiancampus.com/studyinuae/ universities/uclist.htm
Atlassian. (2011). Communication through the ages. Retrieved October 20, 201, from Atlassian: https://www.atlassian.com/communication-through-the-ages-infographic
Ayyad, K. (2011). Internet usage vs traditional media usage among university students in the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 41-61.
Barry, W. A., & Bouvier, G. (2011). Cross-cultural Communication: Arab and Welsh students’ use of Facebook. Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research: Volume 4 Numbers 2 and 3, 165-184.
Brandandmortar. (2014, September 10). Social Media: The Decline of Face-to-Face Communication. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from Brandandmortar: http:// www.brandandmortar.com/social-media/social-media-killer-face-face-communication/
CareSearch. (2016, April 12). Care Search. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from Why Communication is important: https://www.caresearch.com.au/Caresearch/tabid/ 1095/default.aspx
Drago, E. (2015). The Effect of Technology on Face-to-Face Communication. The Effect of Technology on Face-to-Face Communication by Emily Drago, 7.
eMarketer. (2011, November 11). Mobile Messaging to Reach 1.4 Billion Worldwide in 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2016, from eMarketer: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/ Mobile-Messaging-Reach-14-Billion-Worldwide-2015/1013215
George, J. (2016, January 20). Free subscription for WhatsApp confirmed for UAE users.
Emirates 24/7 Business.
Global Media Insight. (2015, June 25). UAE Social Media Statistics 2015. Retrieved from Global Media Insight: http://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/uae-social-media-statistics-2015/
GMI Blogger. (2015, June 25). UAE Social media statitics 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2016, from GMI: http://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/uae-social-media-statistics-2015/
Gouveia, A. (2016, March 2). UAE Law: mind your p’s and q’s on whatsapp or face prison.Emirates Woman.
Hossain, I. T. (2015). Instant messaging – one solution to doctor–student communication? Medical Education Online, v20.30593.
Jones, A. (2015, October 28). Teenagers dependent on social media. The Herald.
Khaleej Times. (2016, July 4). UAE residents spend almost a quarter of their day on social media. Retrieved from Khaleej Times: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/ technology/uae-residents-spend-almost-a-quarter-of-their-day-on-social-media
Kuttab, J. A. (2016, April 13). Free calling apps to remain blocked in UAE. Khaleej Times.
Laughey, D. (2007). Key Themes in Media Theory. Open University Publisher.
Mepra.org. (2014, November 22). Young Emiratis using social media intensely . Retrieved from MEPRA: http://www.mepra.org/knowledge/articles/young-emiratis-using-social-media-intensely/
Najafi, H., & Tridane, A. (2015). Improving Instructor-Student Communication Using Whatsapp: A Pilot Study. International Conference on Developments of E-Systems Engineering , 171-175.
Nassar, D. A. (2016). Using Social Network As An Education Enhancement Tools A Case Study Of Using Whatsapp In Princess Nourah University. Journal of Educational & Instructional Studies in the World, Vol. 6 Issue S1, p18-21. 4p.
Nelson, C. (2016, September 28). UAE use of Instagram and Snapchat rockets ahead of global average. Retrieved from The National: http://www.thenational.ae/business/ technology/uae-use-of-instagram-and-snapchat-rockets-ahead-of-global-average
OrgSync. (2009, Jan 14). College Student Communication. Retrieved October 22, 2016, from The OrgSync Blog: http://blog.orgsync.com/2009/college-student-communication
Riel, B. (n.d.). The Cultural Context – United Arab Emirates. Retrieved from http:// www.bobriel.com/pdf%20files/cultural%20context%20-%20uae.pdf
Rizvi, A., & Bell, J. (2015, April 19). UAE residents happy to mix with different nationalities, survey shows. The National.
Rubin, C. (2013, September 27). Technology and the College generation. Retrieved October 22, 2016, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/fashion/ technology-and-the-college-generation.html?_r=0
Shen, K. N., & Khalifa, M. (2010). Facebook Usage Among Arabic College Students.
Si, L. (2012). Instant Messaging on Interpersonal Relationship:. IM on interpersonal relationships, 30.
SkillsYouNeed. (2016). Interpersonal Communication skills. Retrieved November 6, 2016, from Skills you need: http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/interpersonal-communication.html
Socha, B., & Eber-Schmid, B. (2014). What is new media? Retrieved October 20, 2016, from New Media Institute: http://www.newmedia.org/what-is-new-media.html
Sponcil, M., & Gitimu, P. (2013). Use of social media by college students: Relationship tp communication and self-conception. Journal of Technology Research.
Steele, C. (2014, February 20). What is WhatsApp? An explainer. Retrieved October 20, 2016, from PCMag: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2453710,00.asp
Sutikno, T., Handayani, L., Stiawan, D., Riyadi, M. A., Riyadi, M. A., & Subroto, I. I. (2016). WhatsApp, viber and telegram which is best for instant messaging? International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 6(3), 909-914.
TCA Regional News. (2016, May 6). SnapChat, WhatsApp become trendy. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from TCA Regional News: http://adezproxy.adu.ac.ae/docview/ 1787186663?accountid=26149
UK Government. (2007). The evolution of Communication. United Kingdom: Creative Commons Attribution.
Webwise. (2016). Explainer: What is WhatsApp? Retrieved October 22, 2016, from WebWise: http://www.webwise.ie/parents/explainer-whatsapp/
WhatIs.com. (2016, September). Social Media. Retrieved October 20, 2016, from WhatIs.com: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/social-media
Wiest, J. B., & Eltantawy, N. (2012). Social media use among UAE college students one year after the Arab Spring. Journal Of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 209-226.

Ammaarah Kootbodien is heading the Public Relations and Social Media Management Department at Y & You Advertising in Cape Town, South Africa. Her research interest is how social media plays in shaping trends as well as the manner in which we communicate.
Dr. Nunna Venkata Prasadis an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Languages, College of Arts and Sciences, Abu Dhabi University. His research interest includes media literacy, film and television studies, television production, and environmental communication.
Dr. Muhamad Sham is an associate professor and head of the Department of Communication Studies and Languages, College of Arts and Sciences, Abu Dhabi University. His research interest includes ICT, media and society, advertising and corporate communication.