Whatsapp is one of the essential instant messaging applications available on the internet domain. Around 1 billion people in over 180 nations use Whatsapp to make voice calls, video calls, and share messages, pics, and videos with their friends and family. This application is free of cost, relatively simple, and reliable for calling and messaging purposes.
You might want to check out Negative Effects of Facebook on Teens. A similar post on the effect of social media on teens.
It is an essential social media tool that has impacted the psyche of modern users, especially teens. However, it has its pros and cons, which are listed below.
Positive Effects of WhatsApp on Teens
1. It is a cost-effective app
‘Whatsapp’ is free of cost, and teens are using it to exchange information by transmitting messages. Wherever the internet is accessible, the social media app ‘Whatsapp’ is being used without spending even a penny. In addition, friends across the globe can be called using the app.
2. Whatsapp has become a platform for e-learning
These days, teens enhance their technical skills using Whatsapp, similar to other study-related platforms like the Blackboard environment. The app supports knowledge sharing among students and between students and teachers. Whatsapp has become a platform for teens to express themselves without fear in a non-restricted environment. As a result, Whatsapp has helped teens eliminate low participation, an attribute of classroom lectures.
3. Seamless operation
WhatsApp is overpowered with loads of hallmarks. One can instantly send audio and video messages up to 16 Mb in size and attach files up to 100Mb (PDFs, spreadsheets, and slideshows). When the application is installed, it automatically imports the contacts from the mobile phones offering information to the users. With Whatsapp, one can also share information related to one’s location.
4. A community of like-minded friends
Almost all teens have smartphones with Whatsapp installed on them. Like-minded youth create groups on Whatsapp and discuss and disseminate facts and figures related to a specific topic. This has become the fastest way to share information, discuss particular issues, and enhance Knowledge. The teens also use the app to share jokes and memes to spread humor and bring smiles to their friends.
5. Whatsapp does not have advertisements
Internet sites and many social media applications are replete with infuriating advertisements that pop in between and distract the attentiveness. WhatsApp is free from ads. It provides an excellent user experience, and the app does not struggle due to many ads. This helps students to exchange any conversation without any disturbance.
6. End – To – End Encryption in Whatsapp
Whatsapp offers security by providing End – To – End Encryption. That means all the messages, pictures, videos, voice messages, and files are safe and secure from tampering. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures no one is between you and the other person you are communicating with. Also, it has a feature called ‘Easy Blocking Option’ for blocking unwanted contacts.
However, Whatsapp also has specific negative impacts, especially on the young generation.
Negative Effects of WhatsApp on Teens
1. An unwelcome distraction
WhatsApp is addictive, especially for teens. They often get distracted and don’t focus on the essential tasks and their studies. Also, the constant memes, jokes, trolls, and funny videos make the present-day youth insane and crazy. Much unimportant information clouds their minds as an impact of the continuous use of Whatsapp.
2. Whatsapp addict teens remain aloof from the real world
Teens engrossed with WhatsApp are obsessed with sharing selfies, videos, and audio files among friends and colleagues. They don’t want to mingle with the outside world. As a result, they become socially unreachable and aloof. No interaction with the people and society makes these teens snobbish, which harms their growth.
3. Whatsapp encourages laziness among teens
Whatsapp addict teens become lazy due to the constant use of the application. They waste their productive time due to their obsession with sharing jokes, selfies, memes, and videos on Whatsapp.
4. Whatsapp has harmful effects on health
Constant typing and texting through Whatsapp result in inflammation and swelling of wrist tendons. This condition is called Tenosynovitis. Adolescents may develop personality disorders, excessive aggression, attention deficits, and even abnormal anxiety.
Whatsapp is also causing harm to the body posture in many teens. By continually keeping heads angled down to type, view, and text on their smartphones, backs and necks start to hurt.
5. Sleep deprivation
Whatsapp-obsessed teens are sleep deprived. This makes them prone to perform poorly in academics. In addition, Whatsapp addict lacks emotional connection.
Teenagers obsessed with Whatsapp lack emotional bondage as they hardly meet people. The feeling of care and warmth from face-to-face communication is not there in Whatsapp addict teens.
Naturally, Whatsapp can have a positive effect as well as a negative effect. Therefore, one must be careful of the adverse impacts of Whatsapp.
Whatsapp and Teens FAQs
Does WhatsApp affect mental health?
If you worry about the mental health or that of a loved one, talk to your doctor about possible solutions.
Is WhatsApp good for teenagers?
However, teens can use this platform to discreetly communicate with potential sexual partners or other inappropriate content without fear of being found out.
