A Content Analysis of WhatsApp Status Notifications in Human Communication

Abstract

Social media (SM) has become a popular means of communication among people across ages the world over. This case study sought to investigate the significance of status notifications which people attach to their WhatsApp accounts and how inferences could be drawn about the character, emotional statesand general view of life of the individuals involved.WhatsApp Messenger is widely viewed as one of the most convenient modes of transmitting information as compared to traditional methods and even contemporary means like voice calls using cellular phones, hence its prevalent use. The application was designed to facilitate communication between individuals or groups inthe form of text messages, pictures and audio messages online. Therefore, the researchers considered it vital to investigate the messages people communicate through their status notifications. Such naturally occurring datawere collectedfrom the tworesearchers’personal cell phone contacts. Being qualitative, the study adopted the purposive sampling technique and data, presented in thematic descriptive narrative form were interpreted through content analysis. The data revealed that people sought to communicate a plethora of issues which range from religious, personal or emotional issues, love, totems and popular sayings of a humorous nature, among other pertinent social issues. Such communication was found to be invaluable as it provides important insights into the way human beings in general interact and live in the digital world. The study also revealed that WhatsApp statuses are a very important means of communication and recommends that they should be taken seriously in our endeavour to gain deeper insights into human communication.