Sustainability and Equity in Inclusive Digital Work through Social Media Platforms

The pervasive integration of instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp into professional communication has reshaped global work patterns, offering opportunities and challenges for sustainable development and digital equity. This study examines WhatsApp’s impact on workplace productivity, work–life balance, and data security, assessing its implications for social well-being, ethical governance, and equitable access to digital tools. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) notably SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) the research draws on a narrative literature review of peer-reviewed sources, books, and industry reports published between 2007 and 2024. Findings reveal that while WhatsApp fosters efficient communication and collaboration, it contributes to blurred boundaries between work and personal life, information overload, and heightened data security risks. To advance sustainability and equity in digital work, the study recommends the adoption of structured communication protocols, equitable access to secure digital infrastructure, and workforce training in safe and ethical online practices. These measures can mitigate digital divides, strengthen organisational resilience, and promote inclusive, sustainable work environments in an increasingly interconnected world.© The Author(s) 2024. Published by RITHA Publishing under the CC-BY 4.0. license, allowing unrestricted distribution in any medium, provided the original work, author attribution, title, journal citation, and DOI are properly cited.