Impact of Using Ride Hailing Apps on the Social Connectedness Between Auto Drivers in Auto Driving Communities

The use of ride-hailing apps has been on a rise and has transformed the experience of travel. In India, traditional auto-rickshaw drivers frequently depended on unions, like the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Unions to build community ties through routine gatherings and mutual assistance. Nonetheless, the increasing use of ride-hailing applications has transformed this model promoting independent work behaviors focused on enhancing their personal profits. This research examines how the use of ride-hailing applications affects social connectivity among auto drivers. A comparative study was performed between two groups: drivers utilizing traditional techniques and those using ride-hailing applications. By using convenience sampling, auto drivers between the ages of 20 and 60 were approached for this study. Social connectedness scale developed by Lee and Robbins was used to calculate the levels of social connectedness among auto drivers. A questionnaire was prepared in Telugu, English and Kannada languages with questions consisting of their demographic details and questions from social connectedness scale. Statistical methods such as Independent Samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Cohen’s d were calculated to examine the connection between ride-hailing app usage and degrees of social connectedness. Results show that drivers utilizing ride-hailing applications demonstrate markedly reduced social connectedness highlighting possible social and psychological effects of app-based employment. These findings guide suggestions for ride-hailing services to add features that enhance a feeling of community and unity among their users.