Research Proposal
For
“THE IMPACT OF WHATSAPP ON YOUTH IN BHAVNAGAR
CITY”
Submitted By:
1.Prakash Bambhaniya
MBA – 1st
Sem.
Academic Year:
-----------------
Guided By:
---------------
Submitted To:
---------------
1

INTRODUCTION :-
Innovation in technology takes people and their communication. With billions of users
addicted to ‘Whatsapp’ style of keeping in touch, it is worthwhile to explore what went
behind making this phenomenon happen.
Brian Acton, Jan Koum
Founders
Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work. Brian Acton,
the former Yahoo engineer and Jan Koum are the founders of WhatsApp which is
the most successful instant messaging app now available in the world.
Jan Koum was not from a wealthy family. He stayed with his mother and
grandmother in a small apartment. With his hard work, he finally got into San Jose
State University where he took training in programming.
Jan met his business partner, Brian while working at Yahoo as an engineer. They
worked together in Yahoo for almost nine years and then left the company
together. Then they applied to Facebook, but saw no luck. They had no plans to
become rich until they thought of making an app for iPhone users. They then
created the app which received tremendous success in a very less time. This was
because the users found it pretty easy to use and they need not to register
anywhere in order to use the application. This was the dream come true for both
the partners.
Whatsapp Inc was founded in 2009 by two ex-Yahoo! employees, Brian Acton and
Jan Koum. After having bought an iPhone and looking at the new appstore, they
realised that it was going to be a rapidly growing industry for apps.
Koum chose the name, and they started talking about building an app where people
would have their statuses next to their names.
The initial models failing, Koum was disheartened, and was almost about to give up
when Acton persuaded him to keep at it. Finally in the November of 2009, after
months of beta testing, WhatsApp launched in the app store for iPhones. The
blackberry version was released just two months later.
Jan and Brian earned millions of dollars without any advertising on the app. They
made money in two ways. They started charging iPhone users on first time
installation and the Android users every year. A lot of people used the app and paid
both of them. Reports state that around 250 million people use WhatsApp in a
month. This is a huge number for any application to reach in the smartphone space.
2

The more number of users for WhatsApp, the more partners earn. The money was
straight going to their pocket. There was no outside investment in making the
app.All the development of the app is done in Russia. They could have earned more
from the app by creating the WhatsApp Corporation. They could have earned right
away by selling it.
Both the partners worked at Yahoo and hence learnt the tricks of the trade. Yahoo
works with advertisements. Most users do not like advertisements flashing while
using an application. Understanding this, the two made an app which is simple to
use devoid of barriers in the form of advertisements. That alone made WhatsApp
most loved by the users worldwide.
There are only 55 employees in the WhatsApp Inc. but they serve millions of
people each day. The main aim of the app is to provide a simple interface to the
users enabling them to stay in contact with their loved ones. WhatsApp is now
bought over and owned by Facebook and this made both the partners, Jan and
Brian billionaires in a very short period of time.
After several months of venture capital financing, Facebook declared that they
were acquiring facebook in February 2014. The deal went down for US $19 Billion,
it was Facebook’s largest acquisition till then. Till date, this acquisition is the
largest transaction done by any two companies backed by venture capitalists.
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is an application available on the new generation of smart phones like
IPhone, Android, Blackberry and Nokia mobile phones that allows users to send text
messages to each other for free. Users are not charged for a text sent through
WhatsApp. This is because WhatsApp sends messages through an internet data
connection. WhatsApp supports many different message types, from simple text to
pictures to audio files and videos.
Milestones:-
 Whatsapp released for Symbian OS and Android OS in 2010.
 In September 2011, whatsapp released a new version of the Messenger for iPhones
having closed the security holes.
 It released for Windows Phones and Blackberry 10 in 2013.
 In 2014, they released a version for smartwatches running Andriod OS.
 in January 2015, Whats app added a call feature to target a totally different group of
users.
3

IMPACTS OF WHATSAPP :-
POSITIVE:-
Socialising:
An important part of growing up, is to socialise and make friends. Why this is
important? It is because, it allows the children to exchange ideas and learn new things.
The more they interact, the more they learn. This will invariably result in them
becoming more confident in life.
Sharing knowledge:
It provides an easy and an effective way in which students can share knowledge. Online
data is available to all (unless the restrictions are put against them from the ones who
share) . Students can easily access the data, learn, modify (if needed) and share. Hence,
the flow of knowledge becomes smooth.
Updating oneself:
What better way can students know about what is happening around the world if not
for social networking technologies? They will be able to know new things as and when it
happens. This helps them update their own knowledge base.
Being prepared:
The social networking technologies are all about showcasing the trends that run around
the world. Students can get an idea of what might be expected out of them in the future
by observing the changes that are being updated, shared, discussed or spoken about on
the social networking sites.
4

NEGATIVE:-
Reduced learning and research capabilities :
Students have started relying more on the information accessible easily on these social
networking sites and the web. This reduces their learning and research capabilities.
Multitasking:
Students who get involved in activities on social media sites while studying result in
reduction in their focus of attention. This causes reduction in their academic
performance, and concentration to study well.
Reduces command over language use age and creative writing skills:
Students mostly use slang words or shortened forms of words on social networking
sites. They start relying on the computer grammar and spelling check features. This
reduces their command over the language and their creative writing skills.
Time wastage :
Students, while searching and studying online, get attracted to using social media sites
and sometimes they forget why they are using internet. This wastes their time and
sometimes students are not able to deliver their work in the specified time frame.
Low grades :
Students get low grades in school due to lack of the desired information and writing
skills.
Loss of motivation in students :
The student’s motivational level reduces due to the use of these social networking sites.
They rely on the virtual environment instead of gaining practical knowledge from the
real world.
Effect on health :
The excessive use of these sites affect the mental as well as physical health. Students do
not take their meals on time and take proper rest. They take excessive amount of coffee
or tea to remain active and focused which effects negatively on their health.
5

REVIEW OF LITERATURE :-
Dr.Neelamalar&P.Chitra,AnnaUniversity(2009) They conducted a study to identify
the issues regarding the youth’s social networking usage and the resultant impact on
their social interactions. The sample size was 100 [50 teens 17-19yrs and 50 youths 20-
22yrs]. The findings of the study include 98 % number of people who are the members
in social networking sites in which 68% are strangers, 7% are those who have very
intimate relationship with their online friends (strangers) and 20% are good friends
with the virtual strangers. Thus it is a positive indication that Indian youth are not only
techno-savvy and socially active, but they also possess social consciousness.
(Source- http://www.ecn.edu; Retrieved on Octuber8th, 2014.)
Johnson Yeboah &Georg Dominic Ewur Takoradi Polytechnic,Ghana
(2014)conducted a research to find out the Impact of whatsapp (application of social
networking) messenger on academic performance of youth and data was collected from
550 students of territory institutions of Ghana. The result indicates that whatsapp has
negative impact on the study of youth. It engendered procrastination related problem,
error of spellings and grammatical construction of sentences. Therefore it is difficult to
balance simultaneously the online activities and academic performance with whatsaap.
(Source-.journal of education and practice .vol 4 no 6 2014. )
Dr. Avni Maniar and Ms. Annal Modi university of Baroda, Gujarat (2013)
A mini research was conducted on 30 collage going students of Baroda. The findings of
this study revealed that high majority of them possess smart phones and Giga byte
Internet plan. All of them used Whatsapp for chatting with their contacts. They also
used this application for sharing audio and video files. The purpose behind using this
app was keeping connectivity between their friends and relatives. Hence, this
application is popular amongst in users.
(Source-.EXCEL International Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies,vol 3 2013).
Karen church and Rodrigo de Oliveira, Munich German (2013) were conducted
telephonic research to explore those factors which influence the acceptance, usage and
growing popularity of such MIM application rather than SMS. For this research, various
countries are involved including Finland, Norway, Japan, UK and the USA and the
finding of the research shows significant impacts of this upon the people of these
countries and the reasons for migration to such MIM applications. The nature and intent
of WhatsApp messages tend to be more social, informal and conversational in nature.
6

While SMS is seen more privacy preserving, more formal and generally more reliable
evidence that shows that no technology is a substitute for this.
(Source-.mobile HcI(2013)collaboration and communication .p.g,352to 361 )
Tsai and Lin (2012) suggest that Internet addiction is an important concern among
adolescents. In their study of 700 Taiwanese high school students, 88 were deemed
Internet addicts according to the Internet Addiction Scale which conducted for high
school students in Taiwan (IAST). Current research indicates that ego-identity
achievement in middle school students is negatively related to pathological and extreme
Internet use. This research says that these students are getting addicted to internet
which is the serious problem for the adolescents in present age.
(sources-
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120924137282)
7

RESEARCH PROBLEM :-
Here, the mainly problem that ‘ The impact of whatsapp on youth in Bhavnagar city’.
Demographic variables are..
 Gender
 Educational Background
 Occupation
 Family Income
 Pocket money
 Life style
8

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY :-
 The preliminary aim of the study is to examine the intensity of the usage of
Whatsapp messenger among the youth of Agra region.
 The major objective of this paper is to investigate the way, how it affects the
education, psychology, routine life, family life and expenditure of the youth.
 To gave direction to youth for use of Whatsapp.
 Collection data related to use of whatsapp in youth generation.
 The other objective of this paper is to evaluate the degree of positive and
negative impact of Whatsapp messenger among youth.
 Know the awareness of social networking sites among the research scholars.
 Study the use of WhatsApp by the research scholars.
 Examine the period of using WhatsApp.
 Ascertain the frequency of using WhatsApp.
 Evaluate for what purposes the research scholars are using WhatsApp.
 Study for what research purposes the research scholarsare using WhatsApp.
 Find out the problems faced by the research scholars while using WhatsApp.
 Know whether there is an impact of WhatsApp on research work.
9

HYPOTHESIS :-

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY :-
Source of Data Required data will be collected
through primary source
Researchapproach Survey
Researchinstrument Questionnaire
Sample Size 200 students
Sampling unit Whatsapp users in Bhavnagar city
Sampling procedure Convenience sampling
Contact Method Personal interview
11

LIMITATION OF STUDY:-
o The study will be held in Bhavnagar city only so the behaviour in other area
might be different.
o The sample size will be 200 students only, so as result might not match with the
behaviour of population.
o Less time and cost incurred in study restrict the study.
o Limited cost may restrict the study.
o This study uses self evaluation criteria of investigating the user satisfaction,
which may be researcher biased.
o The result of the study confines only to Whatsapp users in College students.
12

PROPOSED CHAPTER PLAN:-
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Review of Literature
Chapter 3 – Research Design
Chapter 4 – Presentation of Collected Data
Chapter 5 – Analysis & Interpretation of Data
Chapter 6 – Present the findings
Chapter 7 – Conclusion, Suggestion and Limitation of Study
Bibliography
13

TIME SEHEDULE :-
Task Req. Time
Review of literature 7 Days
Research design 4 Days
Tools preparation and testing
Administration of tools
12 Days
Collection of data 6 Days
Presentation & Interpretation 4 Days
Reportwriting 15 Days
The study will be over within 48 days after the approval of proposal.
14

BIBLIOGRAPHY:-
BOOKS:-
C.R.KOTHARI Research Methodology Book
RESEARCH PAPERS:-
view-source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
https://successstory.com/products/whatsapp#collapseFacts_0
http://www.drawbacksof.com/disadvantages-whatsapp/
Neelamalar, M., & Chitra, P. (2009). New media and society. Education and
communication, [cited 2009 Dec 9]; 6(1), 125-45. Available from: URL:
http://www.ecn.edu; Retrieved on Octuber8th, 2014.
Yeboah Johanson&Ewur Dominic George(2014).The impact of whatsapp messenger
usage on students performance .journal of education and practice .vol 4 no 6 2014.
Dr.maniar Avani& Ms Modi Anal(2013)Whatsapp and youth, EXCEL International
Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies,vol 3 2013.
Church Karen&Oliveira de Rodrigo,What’s app with whatsapp? comparing mobile
instant messaging behaviors with traditional sms,mobile HcI(2013)collaboration and
communication .p.g,352to 361
Ghanem, R. (2012, September 24). Social media connecting people. Saudi Gazette.
Retrieved from
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=201209
24137282
http://myessaypoint.com/positive-negative-effects-whatsapp#ixzz4LSjVfi4i
http://www.careerindia.com/features/what-are-the-positive-effects-of-social-
networking-on-education-008594.html
http://performancing.com/negative-effects-of-social-networking-sites-for-students/
15