Using WhatsApp During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Emotions and Perceptions of Users

Figures & data

Table 1 Number and Proportion of Survey Respondents

Age-Group	Number	Proportion
18–25	95	8.9%
26–35	236	22%
36–45	337	31.5%
46–55	273	25.5%
56–65	116	10.8%
Over 66	14	1.3%

Table 2 Proportion of Responses on Four-Point Likert-Scale Answers

Response Item	Always	Sometimes	Infrequently	Never
Use WhatsApp to communicate with family and friends	85.2%	13.2%	1.6%	0
Use WhatsApp to communicate with some officials	25.4%	34.6%	22.9%	17.1%
Use WhatsApp to share photos	40.9%	39.9%	14.3%	4.9%
Use WhatsApp to share light information and jokes	48.4%	38%	11.4%	2.2%
Use WhatsApp to share health information about COVID-19	28.6%	41.1%	18.2%	12.1%
Get latest information about COVID-19 from WhatsApp messages	17.1%	37.9%	20.4%	24.6%
Get updated information about COVID-19 from Ministry of Health Web site	60.6%	25.5%	7.1%	6.8%
Learn protection methods for COVID-19 through WhatsApp	20.2%	39.5%	18%	22.3%
Learn about curfew times during COVID-19 via WhatsApp	25.3%	36%	16%	22.7%
Learn of circulars about COVID-19 via WhatsApp	24%	37.7%	16.2%	22.1%
Confirm health information received via WhatsApp before resending it	69.8%	23.7%	3.6%	2.8%
Consider information received via WhatsApp reliable	2.4%	33.7%	33.1%	30.8%
Wear gloves and mask whenever I go out	83.3%	13.9%	1.6%	1.2%

Table 3 Proportion of Responses on Three-Point Likert-Scale Answers

Response Questions	Yes	No	Sometimes
Resend information from, eg, Twitter, Instagram about COVID-19 to my WhatsApp connections	25.7%	26.7%	47.6%
Follow WHO on WhatsApp to get latest news about COVID-19	10.5%	77%	12.5%
Ask everyone to wash their hands when entering the home	81.2%	4.9%	13.9%
Ask everyone to change their clothes when entering the home	33.8%	37.3%	28.9%
Follow health instructions to protect against COVID-19 inside and outside the home	92.2%	0.4%	7.5%

Figure 1 Proportion of responses about feeling anxious or worried because of COVID-19.

Figure 2 Proportion of message types.

Figure 3 Proportion of sentiments and prayers.

Figure 4 Proportion of messages and posts about prevention measures for COVID-19.

Figure 5 Our interpretation of pathway of communications effect on emotions and attitudes.