JUBAIL: Several people here have declared social media chat services as a waste of time, which keep them from other productive activities such as working and studying.

Mariam Abdullah, who is retired, said: “One of my colleagues asked me to join a chat group consisting of woman workers, ex-colleagues and administrators. Since then, I have received tens of useless and repeated messages every day, to such an extent that I bought another mobile phone with a new number.”

Anisah Fahd, a teacher, said: “I have a large family so I could not refuse an invitation to join the family group on WhatsApp. But I then received hundreds of tips, messages and articles every day which became a waste of time.” Only a few messages were useful, she said.

Psychologist Fathiah Al-Mohammed said that while loads of information can be posted through social media chat services, much of it was a waste of time. This results in people wasting valuable time at work, or being diverted from more productive activities, including making money, she said.