ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp: (53-59), Month: January - March 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
ANALYSING IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON WOMEN: A STUDY IN VADODARA CITY Shelly Shekhawat, Bindu Bhatt Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat. Corresponding Author: bindoobhatt@gmail.com
Abstract: Humans have always been socially connected or networked since the time of their origin on planet Earth. Now in modern times, social interaction has further diversified into the realm of online communication, which is any communication that is enabled by the use of computers and the Internet. Social Networking sites are termed to as web based services that give an opportunity to individuals to create their own personal profile with the choice of their own list of users and thereby connect with them in an altogether public forum that provides them with features such as chatting, blogging, video calling, mobile connectivity and video/photo sharing. The main objective is to analyze the impact of social media on young women in urban area of Vadodara. The study based on primary data for which the field survey had been and a questionnaire among the respondents. The questions were so designed that they explore several aspects of social media. A random sample of 100 women is collected. The primary data thus generated have been analyzed using appropriate methods. Findings show that the Majority of the respondents show the agreements with these influences of social media. Respondents opine WHATSAPP and Instagram as their favorite social media with 51% followed by YouTube. They spend more than usual hours on social networking sites to download pictures, browse through updates seek entertainment and chat around with friends to keep themselves connected. The findings highlights include the followings; social media refines how females think, interacts, communicates, their social lifestyle and many more. The study was able to discover diverse impacts of social media usage which are a result of advancement in modern technology. Keywords: Social Media, Women, Urban, Technology.
1. INTRODUCTION We humans have always been socially connected or networked since the time of our origin on planet Earth. We‟ve been using a multitude of techniques and instruments to facilitate and maintain these networks; be it postal services, telephones, telegraphs or even socializing in clubs, social contact has always been a prerogative. In modern times, social interaction has further diversified into the realm of online communication, which is any communication that is enabled by the use of computers and the Internet. Web 2.0 technologies were initially developed to fulfill commercial and institutional purposes but they gradually evolved to focus on user-generated content. Such technology has a global reach where individuals can collaborate, share and learn. Social media can be referred to as “a set of online tools open for public membership that supports idea sharing, creating and editing content, building relationships through interaction and collaboration” (Matthew & Martinez, 2014,p. 126). An online social network can be defined as a type of virtual community that consists of people who share a similar interest. These communities are able to interact with one another almost instantaneously whether they are separated
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