Essay: The Use Of Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging is the most-used form of communication within society today. However, studies have shown that the new application, Snapchat, has rapidly been rising in numbers regarding users and every day usage. The purpose of this study was to look at the nature of Snapchat, why it’s so appealing, and what exactly is so appealing to users. Why are people choosing to use Snapchat over other IM applications (e.g., Facebook, Skype, etc.)?
With research showing snapchat becoming more and more popular, it is believed that social capital ideals and on-going, rapid communication are both huge factors as to why the application is so successful.
If more instant messaging applications allowed the content people shared to persist for a limited amount of time, like Snapchat, people would be more inclined to use them.
Primary Question Asked: What is the nature and role of Snapchat use in facilitating social interactions and networking?
This study was designed to examine:
How exactly people use the app, Snapchat.
What people use it for
Who people use it for
How often people use it
What benefits they get from using it
The researchers used a correlational design to test the primary hypothesis. We know this because, the researchers specifically wanted to look at first-year students only with the intention of take a closer look at a younger agre group of Snapchat users.
Correlational designs have many advantages. For this study, in particular, the researchers wanted to take a close look at Snapchat users amongst a younger age group instead of a wider range which would include more variables to the study. Therefore, there is more correlation to the study and what is being studied/looked at.
As we learned earlier in the semester, Corrolation does not mean causation. In explaining this further, correlational research studies can not prove that one variable caused another variable to change in any way.
N = 209
(139 female 70 male)
Students at the University of the West of England (UWE)
Looked at the relationship between the use of Snapchat, the intensity of using the app, and its effects on social capital.
Variables:
Sociodemographics (the effects on social capital/social interactions)
Snapchat usage (intensity)
Other social media platforms (IM)
In the study, the variables looked at were:
Gender, Age, Sexual Orientation, Employment, Relationship, Hours of internet/day, Frequency of IM use, Snapchat intensity, Constant, Observations, etc.
The researchers gave out different surveys containing questions regarding their Snapchat usage.
Used small sample sizes so they could look at the data more in-depth
Conducted regression diagnostics
First looked at socio-demographic factors and how they control/ effect the participants’ lives
Identifying:
Patterns of snapchat use
Snaps sent and recieved
General aspects
Association between intensity of use and social capital
The researchers found the Snapchat was infact reported to be one of the top three instant messaging applications used most frequently. The study also shows that the app, Snapchat was used to communicate with a single person rather than a larger group, typically close friends, significant others or family.
Snapchat was found to have a very positive association between the intensity of usage and social capital. “Users typically send (and recieve) a selfie…” – Lukasz Piwek & Adam Joinson
Within this study, the researchers probably found limitations:
Can’t control understanding whether or not the participants are being truthful
For example: how is it possible to know exactly what the participants are snapchatting
Privacy
Provocative?
Intimacy?
Accuracy!!