Domestication of Whatsapp Usage and Understanding Whatsapp Groups in Terms of Group Dynamics
Melike AkbıyıkThe widespread use of the Internet offers individuals a new daily life where everything has been transferred to the online environment and the limits in time and space have disappeared. New communication tools, especially accessible through smartphones, have also transferred social relationships to the online environment. This study investigated the domestication of WhatsApp usage and group dynamics of WhatsApp groups of freshmen university students of 2020. These students had no opportunity to have face-to-face interaction before. Through focus group discussion and in-depth interview analysis, we evaluated firstly the domestication of WhatsApp usage among students. The results showed that the reason why WhatsApp finds very frequent and intense use in their daily lives is their efforts to constantly stay in touch with each other. Secondly, group dynamics of class WhatsApp groups and (if present) small groups were assessed. It was found that class WhatsApp groups show the characteristics of a secondary group, which is a unique form of a social group. It is formally organized; there are task-oriented interactions, and the interactions are impersonal. In addition, when the number of group members decreases and online small groups are formed through WhatsApp, they also display primary group characteristics like being intimate, providing social support, and socialization.
References
- Aharony, N. (2015). Why do students use What’s App?- an exploratory study. Aslib Journal of Information Management, 67(2), 136-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-11-2014-0148 google scholar
- Ardichvili, A., Page, V., & Wentling, T. (2003). Motivation and barriers to participation in virtual knowledge-sharing communities of practice. Journal of Knowledge Management, 7(1), 64-77. https://doi. org/10.1108/13673270310463626 google scholar
- As Sabiq, A. H., & Fahmi, M. I. (2020). Mediating quizzes as assessment tool through WhatsApp auto-response in ELT online class. Langkawi Journal of the Association for Arabic and English, 6(2), 186-201. http:// dx.doi.org/10.31332/lkw.v6i2.2216 google scholar
- Baishya, D., & Maheshwari, S. (2020). WhatsApp groups in academic context: Exploring the academic uses of WhatsApp groups among the students. Contemporary Educational Technology, 11(1), 31-46. https://doi. org/10.30935/cet.641765 google scholar
- Bayer, J. B., Campbell, S. W., & Ling, R. (2016). Connection cues: Activating the norms and habits of social connectedness. Communication Theory, 26(2), 128-149. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12090 google scholar
- Benkler, Y. (2006). The wealth of networks. How social production transforms markets and freedom (pp.356-487). Yale University Press. http://www.benkler.org/Benkler_Wealth_Of_Networks_Chapter_10.pdf google scholar
- Bouhnik, D., & Deshen, M. (2014). WhatsApp goes to school: Mobile instant messaging between teachers and students. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 13, 217-231. http://www.jite.org/ documents/Vol13/JITEv13ResearchP217-231Bouhnik0601.pdf google scholar
- Bulunmaz, B. (2014). Yeni media eski medyaya karşı: Savaşı kim kazandı ya da kim kazanacak? Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 22-29. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/e-kiad/ issue/49298/629850 google scholar
- Coca, P., Carpintero, E., Exposito, E., Lopez, E., & Thoilliez, B. (2020). Parents’ Whatsapp groups and their effects on parental involvement in schools: validation of an instrument. International Journal of Educational Research and Innovation, 14, 241-261. https://doi.org/10.46661/ijeri.4178 google scholar
- Çağlak, U. (2019). WhatsApp, WhatsApp groups and usage habits: A research on university students. The Journal of International Social Research, 12(66), 626-239. http://dx.doi.org/10.17719/jisr.2019.3612 google scholar
- Çetinkaya, L. (2017). The impact of Whatsapp use on success in education process. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 18(7), 59-74. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i7.3279 google scholar
- DiMaggio, P., Hargittai, E., Neuman, W. R., & Robinson, J. P. (2001). Social implications of the Internet. Annu. Rev. Sociol, 27, 307-336. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.307 google scholar
- Gemius Turkey (2022, May 23). Dijital dünyada gençler en çok neleri tercih ediyor? https://www.gemius.com. tr/974/dijital-duenyada-gencler-en-cok-neleri-tercih-ediyor.html google scholar
- Göncü, S. (2018). A study about the WhatsApp use of Y generation with the context of uses and gratifications. TRT Akademi, 3(6), 590-613. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/516962 google scholar
- Gutierrez, V. F., Domingo, M. G., & Lopez, M. A. (2017). Groups of class; groups of WhatsApp. Analysis of communicative dynamics among university students. Prisma Social, 18, 144-171. https://www.researchgate. net/publication/319041528_Groups_of_class_Groups_of_WhatsApp_Analysis_of_communicative_ dynamics_among_university_students google scholar
- Haddon, L. (2011). Domestication analysis, objects of study, and the centrality of technologies in everyday life. Canadian Journal of Communication, 36(2), 311-323. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from http://eprints.lse. ac.uk/62128/1/Domestication_analysis_.pdf google scholar
- Haddon, L. (2006). The contribution of domestication research to in-home computing and media consumption. The Information Society, 22(4), 195-203. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/62631/1/ Contribution%20Domestication.pdf google scholar
- Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, F. P. (2014). Joining together. Group theory and group skills (pp. 1-48). Pearson Education Limited. ISBN-10:1-292-02263-9. google scholar
- Karapanos, E., Teixeira, P., & Gouveia, R. (2016). Need fulfillment and experiences on social media: A case on Facebook and WhatsApp. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 888-897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. chb.2015.10.015 google scholar
- Kemp, S. (2022, February 15). Digital 2022: Turkey. Datareportal. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-turkey google scholar
- Khoza, S. B. (2020). Students’ habits appear captured by WhatsApp. International Journal of Higher Education, 9(6), 307-317. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v9n6p307 google scholar
- Kraut, R., Kiesler, S., Boneva, B., Cummings, J., Helgeson, V., & Crawford, A. (2002). Internet paradox revisited. Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 49-74. https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/waysofbeing/data/communication-zangana-kraut-2002.pdf google scholar
- Licoppe, C. (2004). ‘Connected’ presence: The emergence of a new repertoire for managing social relationships in a changing communication technoscape. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 22(1), 135156. https://doi.org/10.1068/d323t google scholar
- Lindenberg, S. (2015). The Sociology of groups. In International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, Second Edition (pp.434-440). Retrieved May 5, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/275562808_Lindenberg_S_2015_Groups_Sociology_of_In_International_Encyclopedia_of_ the_Social_Behavioral_Sciences_2nd_edition_Vol_10_Oxford_Elsevier_pp_434-440 google scholar
- Ling, R. (2017). The social dynamics of mobile group messaging. Annals of the International Communication Association, 41(3-4), p.242-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2017.1374199 google scholar
- Ling, R., & Donner, J. (2009). Mobile communication: Digital media and society series. Polity Press. ISBN-13:978-0-7456-4413-4. google scholar
- Matassi, M., Boczkowki, P. J., & Mitchelstein, E. (2019). Domesticating WhatsApp: Family, friends, work and study in everyday communication. New Media & Society, 21(10), 1-18. https://doi. org/10.1177/1461444819841890 google scholar
- Matzat, U. (2004). Cooperation and community on the Internet: Past issues and present perspectives for theoretical-empirical Internet research. Analyse & Kritik, 26, 63-90. Retrieved May 5, 2022, from https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/254838283_Cooperation_and_Community_an_the_Internet_Past_ Issues_and_Present_Perspectives_for_Theoretical-Empirical_Internet_Research google scholar
- McGinty, P. W. (2007). Secondary groups. In G. Ritzer (Ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeoss061.pub2 google scholar
- McKenna, K. Y. A., & Green, A. S. (2002). Virtual group dynamics. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 6(1), 116-127. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.6.1.116 google scholar
- Miller, V. (2008). New media, networking and phatic culture. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 14(4), 387-400. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856508094659 google scholar
- Minalla, A. A. (2018). The effect of WhatsApp chat group in enhancing EFL learners’ verbal interaction outside classroom contexts. English Learning Teaching, 11(3). http://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v11n3p1 google scholar
- Mora, H. M., Pont, M.T.S., Casado, G. M., & Iglesias, V. G. (2015). Management of social networks in the educational process. Computers in Human Behavior, 51, 890-895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.010 google scholar
- Nicolopoulou, K., Kostomaj, M., & Campos, A. (2006). How to address group dynamics in virtual worlds. AI & Society, 20, 351-371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-005-0027-0 google scholar
- Ogara, S. O., Koh, C. E,. & Prybutok, V. R. (2014). Investigating factors affecting social presence and user satisfaction with Mobile Instant Messaging. Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 453-459. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.03.064 google scholar
- O’Hara, K. P., Massimi, M., Harper, R., Rubens, S., & Morris, J. (2014). Everyday dwelling with WhatsApp. google scholar
- CSCW’14: Proceedings of the 17th ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work & social computing. ACM Digital Library. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2531602.2531679 google scholar
- Pielot, M., de Oliveire, R., Kwak, H., & Oliver, N. (2014). Didn’t you see my message? Predicting attentiveness to mobile instant messages. CHI’14: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing systems. ACM Digital Library. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2556973 google scholar
- Pimmer, C., Abiodun, R., Daniels, F., & Chipps, J. (2019). “I felt a sense of belonging somewhere”. Supporting graduates’ job transitions with WhatsApp groups. Nurse Education Today, 81, 57-63. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.06.010. google scholar
- Preece, J. (2001). Sociability and usability in online communities: Determining and measuring success. Behaviour & Information Technology, 20(5), 347-356. https://doi.org/10.1080/01449290110084683 google scholar
- Rettie, R. (2009). Mobile phone communication: Extending Goffman to mediated interaction. Sociology, 43(3), 421-438. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038509103197 google scholar
- Rosenberg, H., & Asterhan, C. S. C. (2018). WhatsApp, teacher? Student perspectives on teacher-student WhatsApp interactions in secondary schools. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 17, 205-226. https://doi.org/10.28945/4081 google scholar
- Sassanberg, K. (2002). Common bond and common identity groups on the Internet: Attachment and normative behaviors in on-topic and off-topic chats. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 6(1), 27-37. https://doi.org./10.1037/1089-2699.6.1.27 google scholar
- Silverstone, R., & Haddon, L. (1996). Design and the domestication of information and communication technologies: technical change and everyday life. In R. Mansell & R. Silverstone (Eds.), Communication by design: The politics of information and communication technologies [eBook edition] (pp. 44-74). Oxford University Press. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/64821/ google scholar
- Silverstone, R., Hirsch, E., & Morley, D. (2005). Information and communication technologies and the moral economy of the household. In R. Silverstone and E. Hirsch (Eds.), Consuming technologies Media and information in domestic spaces (pp.13-28). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203401491 google scholar
- Tapscott, D. (n.d.). Louder echo. Growing up digital. https://www.growingupdigital.com/ google scholar
- Thulin, E. (2017). Always on my mind: How smartphones are transforming social contact among young Swedes. google scholar
- Young, 26(5), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/1103308817734512 google scholar
- Toseland, R. W., Jones, L. V., & Gellis, Z. D. (2004). Group dynamics. In C.D. Garvin, L.M. Gutierrez, & M. J. Galinsky (Eds.), Handbook of social work with groups, (pp. 13-31). Guilford Publications. google scholar
- Twenge, J. M. (n.d.). Books (iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and completely unprepared for adulthood—and what that means for the rest of us). Dr. Jean Twenge. http://www.jeantwenge.com/igen-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/ google scholar
- Tyler, T. R. (2002). Is the Internet changing social life? It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 195-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.00256 google scholar
- Udenze, S,. & Oshionebo, B. (2020). Investigating ‘WhatsApp’ for collaborative learning among undergraduates. Etkileşim, 5, 24-50. https://doi.org/10.32739/etkilesim.2020.5.92 google scholar
- WhatsApp (2022). WhatsApp hakkında. https://www.whatsapp.com/about google scholar