Abstract
Problem statement: This study aims to explore mobile phone and Short Message Service (SMS) usage among urbanized Malaysian youth. Uses and Gratification theory was used to explore mobile phone purchasing factors, reasons to use mobile phone and SMS, usage pattern and behavioral issues related to mobile phone and SMS. Structured questionnaire surveys and 24 h diaries were distributed to 417 students. Results show respondents consider brand, trend and price to be the three most important purchasing factors while socializing and privacy are the two most important reasons to use mobile phones. SMS is mostly used to organize social appointments and to keep in touch with families and friends. Behavioral issues related to over-dependence and inappropriate use of mobile phones and SMS were also observed among the respondents. Conclusion/Recommendations: The findings of this study could be beneficial to those exploring mobile phone and SMS adoption and usage pattern in a developing country such as Malaysia.
Highlights
The mobile phone is a multipurpose communication tool, an instrument used for phone calls, text messaging, on-line services, games and much more
Though work on mobile phone and Short Messaging Service (SMS) has been and Katz (1974), Uses and Gratification (U&G) theory extensively studied in many countries, the is used to explain the motivations to use technologies, Malaysian youth cohort’s appropriation and use of this especially why consumers use media to satisfy their medium is still under researched
Four main factors were considered in this study, namely, motivations to use mobile phone and SMS, usage pattern, behavioral issues and mobile phone purchasing factors
Summary
The mobile phone is a multipurpose communication tool, an instrument used for phone calls, text messaging, on-line services, games and much more. Though work on mobile phone and SMS has been and Katz (1974), Uses and Gratification (U&G) theory extensively studied in many countries, the is used to explain the motivations to use technologies, Malaysian youth cohort’s appropriation and use of this especially why consumers use media to satisfy their medium is still under researched. Due to the lack of research assessing mobile phone and SMS appropriation and its usage among Malaysians, this study aims to find: Mobile phone usage and youth: Dresler-Hawke and Mansvelt (2008) explored the appropriation of mobile phone usage among 111 university students (18-24 years) in New Zealand Their findings indicate that mobile phone is an extension of self, with the majority of their respondents leaving their phone on continually. This is in contrast with the American users who do not necessarily expect a reply when a message is sent (Brown et al, 2002)
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