Social Media Uses and Effects

This chapter aims at analysing the effects of social media on African society by focusing on WhatsApp usage. The chapter will; one, show how usage of WhatsApp is affecting interpersonal relationships in Africa. Two, evaluate the common uses of WhatsApp in Africa. Three, scrutinise the reasons people in Africa prefer using WhatsApp. Four, add theoretical perspectives on how social media is impacting on the communication landscape of the region. The chapter will also introduce two concepts, one; medium veracity wherein different media have varying levels of trust or credibility and two; the social media domino effect, wherein social media platforms are mutually dependent and have a symbiotic relationship. By examining why people are using WhatsApp, this chapter seeks to add to the empirical conversation on futility and the transformative potential of social media.