Deep learning analysis of social media content used by Bahraini women: WhatsApp in focus

Abstract

This article examines perceptions of social media use (e.g. the WhatsApp application), in particular looking at how Bahraini women use such technology and how mobile communication is used by such a segment of the population. Mobile devices are very accessible to Bahraini women and this needs even further study to learn ways of using applications for information and other things. This analysis is based on an online survey, conducted among 1137 Bahraini women, using a nonrepresentative sample (snowball). Such data were analyzed using a deep learning approach which utilizes, in particular, the Fuzzy Proximity Knowledge Mining technique to examine the provided answers. The study found that WhatsApp has enabled Bahraini women to communicate and share information with others. They spent 2–3 h daily sending and enjoying comics and entertainment clips and important and rare news stories. Social interaction, communication, and escapism featured strongly as the most popular reasons for using WhatsApp. Overall, WhatsApp served as a platform used to participate in social and communication activities.