Abstract
This paper investigates the role that social media, and particularly WhatsApp mobile applications plays in venting stress and other related aggressive behaviors among African couples. It seeks to examine the relationship that exists between WhatsApp usage and being happy, or rather catharsis. It leverages the existing datasets from the Afro-barometer (Africa Tracking Internet Progress-ATIP) website. Essentially the website maintains archives for all African network development and telecommunication datasets. Therefore, this study uses the aforementioned to argue that married women belonging to WhatsApp social groups in Africa have higher levels of catharsis. In other words, the finding of this study indicates that there was a strong and significant correlation between the time spent on social media (Duration-Drt) and the feeling of belonging (Bln) and therefore, catharsis (Eph). Key words: WhatsApp, catharsis, closed-groups, Africa, women, culture.  
Highlights
The proliferation of social media in Africa has chronicled a series of research focusing on various facets of the advantages of social media
WhatsApp mobile usage characteristic was treated as dependent variables while characteristics pertaining to catharsis indicated independent variables
The dominant motive for using WhatsApp mobile application was characterized by catharsis reasons
Summary
The proliferation of social media in Africa has chronicled a series of research focusing on various facets of the advantages of social media. Many scholars have perceived its presence as a form of civilization. The social engagement of women, for example, and other dispossessed groups is perceived as championing the perpetuated stereotypes throughout the continent of Africa (Calvert, 2015). Studies conducted in East and South Africa for example, indicate the advantages that women have benefitted through technology (Asongu, 2018; Larsson and Svensson, 2018; Rodriguez et al, 2015). A plethora of studies continue to chart the advantages that Africa has politically and economically attained through the use of social media (Tettey, 2001; Howard and Parks, 2012)
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