Exploring the Attitude and Usage of Online Chat Platforms Among College Students

Abstract

This study aims to examine the attitude towards Internet chatting and its impact on the educational development of college students in Greater Noida District, Uttar Pradesh. The researchers employed a normative survey method for the study. A sample of 200 college students was selected from two Arts and Science colleges and two Engineering colleges in Greater Noida District, using the stratified random sampling technique. A custom-developed tool was used to assess students\' attitudes towards Internet chatting and its influence on educational progress. The data was analyzed using the ‘t’ test and ?2-test. The findings suggest that college students in Greater Noida District exhibit a positive attitude towards Internet chatting in relation to their educational development. Additionally, their attitudes varied based on the locality of the college.

Introduction

1. Introduction & Background:
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), particularly the Internet, has significantly transformed education. College students are heavy users of the Internet for research, communication, and learning. Among various internet applications, online chatting has emerged as a vital tool for academic communication, collaborative work, and knowledge-sharing.

2. Purpose and Need for the Study:
The study was designed to assess college students' attitudes toward internet chatting in relation to their educational development. While internet chats support learning and global academic engagement, concerns about excessive usage and academic distraction remain. The study aimed to explore whether students view online chat as an educational asset or a hindrance.

3. Key Definitions:

• Attitude: Students’ overall perception (positive/negative) toward online chatting based on experiences, interface design, privacy, etc.

• Internet Chatting: Real-time digital communication (e.g., WhatsApp, Teams, Discord).

• Educational Development: Academic growth facilitated by tools like online chatting through collaborative learning, project work, and resource sharing.

• College Students: Individuals in higher education (17+ years old) with diverse backgrounds and tech habits.

• Online Chat Platforms: Social, academic/professional, and public discussion-based platforms supporting varied educational functions.

4. Study Objectives:

• Examine students’ attitudes toward online chatting for academic use.

• Identify attitude variations based on gender, locality (urban/rural), and type of college (Arts & Science vs. Engineering).

• Evaluate the impact of chatting on academic performance and engagement.

• Understand the benefits and drawbacks of using chat platforms in education.

5. Scope & Limitations:

• Conducted in Greater Noida District, Uttar Pradesh.

• Sample: 200 college students from 4 colleges (2 Arts & Science, 2 Engineering).

• Limited geographical and institutional representation.

6. Methodology:

• Normative survey method using a structured questionnaire.

• Development of a custom tool: Internet Chatting Attitude Scale (ICAS) with 22 items (Likert scale), showing high reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.825).

• Stratified random sampling by gender, college type, and locality.

• Data analyzed with descriptive (mean, SD, percentages) and inferential statistics (t-test, chi-square) using SPSS and MS Excel.

7. Key Findings:

• Gender: No statistically significant difference found in the attitudes of male and female students toward online chatting for education.

• Locality and College Type: Analysis ongoing or implied in broader findings.

• While students largely see internet chatting as beneficial for communication, collaboration, and quick learning, the overall impact depends on how positively they engage with the platform.

Conclusion

The internet is a revolutionary technology that has changed the world and given its users—especially college students—many advantages. Students gain a lot from it, including access to research, entertainment, and socialization. The majority of these amenities can be obtained via online chat. The majority of people who use the Internet and chat online are college students. They participate in online chats, regardless of their gender or field of study, and it will raise their learning level. They can look into a lot of things that we never would have imagined possible with Internet conversation. It serves as a communication tool for class discussions between teachers and students. An excessive amount of chatter will cause someone to develop an Internet addiction. Giving pupils the right supervision and counselling can help prevent Internet addiction if their attitudes toward Internet chat and their usage are monitored.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Rishi Shekher, Vishnukant , Rohit Bisht, Dr. Sureshwati , Dr. Abdul Alim. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.