How and why does Generation X & Y use smartphones?

By: Derek Devine

Growing up I have had a huge fascination with mobile phones and how technologically advanced they have become over the years. I have gone through more than 20 mobile phones and each one has been extremely useful in my life. Mobile phones are a huge benefit in my daily life. And I have always wondered what type of gratification do others get out of their mobile phones too. The mobile phone market per year is over a 10-billon dollar market. And a new type of phone has emerged from mobile phones, which are smart phones. Smart phones are increasingly popular amongst the current two generations of our population. Generation X & Y are more known to use smart phones than any other generation. Mobile phones will allow a user to make phone calls, send text messages, and a few other applications. But smart phones are described as a computer in your pocket. Smart phones can be your calendar, to-do list, entertainment system (i.e., movies, TV shows, games), Internet browser, digital camera, compass, flashlight, and thousands of other applications, literally thousands. For an example, the iPhone has over 350,000 applications. And I need to know: How and why does Generation X & Y use smartphones. A smartphone is extremely useful and beneficial to ones life, and I want to know how the features of a smartphone enrich peoples’ lives, because they do for me.

Literature Review

Understanding the history of mobile phones and how they evolved is extremely important to know why people need, use, and relay on them. Rice and Katz (2008) claim that people started using mobile phones based on three categories-surveillance, entertainment, and instrumental. And these categories have evolved from landline phone use to mobile phone. Surveillance, because people were more interested in using mobile phones for sharing locations with family and friends. Entertainment, which was viewed negatively due to privacy, was not used because of “threats to their privacy” of sharing information. And the Instrumental Moments are explained as emergencies. Leung and Wei (2000) take it a step further and explain through surveys how people feel about the different uses of mobile phones. The authors concluded eight factors that were learned for the purpose of users using mobile phones, which were; fashion/status, affection/sociability, relaxation, mobility, immediate access, instrumentality, reassurance, and eigenvalue. The most important finding of this study was that “mobility and immediate access” were unique ideal usages of mobile phones. Both of these studies allows for a more thoughtful surveys to categorize the possible reasons/question to ask.

The mobility and immediate access correlates with Campbell & Kwak (2010) study that employed the uses and gratification approach to learn that the more people who use their mobile phones the more engaged they are in civic and political engagement. The authors concluded that the top three reasons for mobile phone use are to go online to share content that is entertaining, browse web just for fun, and go online to share content about hobbies or personal interests. These three findings are a clear indication of my results as well, which is listed in the findings and discussions section. Going further with sharing information about hobbies and personal interests is an area of research learned more form Ramierz, Dimmick, Feaster, and Lin (2008) study. This article focused on instant messaging for mobile phones users and how it has surpassed the use of landline telephone, and the gratifications of instant messaging. Instant messaging is a clear indication of users sharing content about hobbies and personal interest with their family and friends. The authors learned more about why users use mobile phones than previous research, which is based on personal reasoning’s (to send and receive text messages), touch (to keep in touch with people), time (to keep in contact with people you don’t have enough time to see in person), share (to share ideas and opinions), fun (for fun or pleasure of communication), fast (for communicating that is quick and fast), simple (for communication that is simple and easy), and convenient (for communication that is convenient) (Ramirez et al, 2008).

All of these findings correlate with Wirth, Pape, and Karnowski (2008) study as well. These authors concluded there is several different type of mobile phones user. The Obtrusive user is one who makes heavy use of their cell phones. The Relationship Manager is one who “maintains relations” and “controls them.” A Trendy Cell-Phone-Player is one who considers their phone as a fashion accessory. The Everyday-Life-Manager is one who wants “control” and to “management of everyday life.” And finally the Discreet Light-User shows very discreet behavior when using their mobile phones (Wirth et al, 2008, p. 607). These different types of users are more explained by Wei (2008) study. Wei found out that “the more respondents perceived the mobile phone as instrumental in fulfilling their needs for communication and helpful for staying informed, the more they used the mobile phone for news-seeking and Web-surfing while on the move” (Wei, p. 42). Wei finding is also prominent in my results from those who use mobile phones as well, and is a clear indication of how and how Generation X and Y use smart phones.

Method

Terms to be aware of are: smart phones, Generation X, and Generation Y. Smart phones are portable cellular phones that allow users to make phones calls to others practically any where in the world. These smart phones are more dynamic than normal mobile phones. The features vary form surfing the web, text messaging, playing games, reading books, emailing, playing music, and downloading one of thousands applications. Generation X is people who were born between 1960 and 1970. Generation Y is people born between 1980 and 1990.

Twenty-two surveys were conducted with 6 questions per survey with a 4-point likert-type scale ranging from (0) never, (1) rarely, (2) sometimes, (3) often, and (4) very often. These responses allowed a consensus of how and why Generation X and Y use smart phones. The first two surveys were preliminary to ensure the questions weren’t confusing. The remaining 20 surveys were normal. 10 participants were from my work and the other 10 participants were from my school were surveyed. I made sure everyone openly agreed to take the survey when I asked. I never pressure nor asked twice for anyone to take the survey to ensure authentic answers.

Two interviews were conducted to get an in-depth conversation about how and why Generation X and Y use smart phones. There were nine questions both interviews. Each open-ended question had a follow-up questions to learn more. And these interviews allow me to learn more about the topic than previous research concluded. Lastly these interviews took place a Starbucks over coffee for a duration of 30 minutes.

My data collection method is based on three categories for how and why Generation X and Y use smart phones. The three categories are Entertainment (Games, Music, Movies), Information (Internet, Books, Magazines, Blogs, FaceBook), and Communication (IM, Text, Phone, Email).

And my coding scheme is based on 10 schemes. The 10 schemes are Personal (my own personal device and data), Mobility (easy to travel with), Immediate Access, Fashion Statement, Keep in touch with people, keep in contact with people who are far, give and receive Information, Relaxation, Share ideas and opinions, and its Fun.

All participants were thanked for their time and support for the research.

Findings and Discussion

The purpose of this study was to find out how and why Generation X and Y use smart phones. And throughout this research I have come to an exact census of the use of smart phones amongst Generation X and Y. Generation X and Y use their smart phones for entertainment, information, and communication purposes. And they do so because they want to stay connected with their family and friends, to stay entertain during free time, and to read about information that’s important to them on a daily basis. These results were concluded from several findings.

First, my surveys concluded positive correlations to previous research. Rice and Katz (2008) research introduced the concept of people using mobile phones to share location with family and friends. This definitely still is the case today. 90% of the participants “very often” or “most of the time” keep in touch with their family and friends. Generation X and Y use smart phones to stay connected, but also to feel a sense of connection when they’re apart from each other.

75% of the participants “very often” or “most of the time” text because of the immediacy of getting information form others. This finding for my surveys is another positive correlation with previous research. Leung and Wei (2000) study also supports the mobility and immediate access of texting as well. This usage illustrates how Generation X and Y communicate to stay connected with each other.

85% of participants use their smart phones “very often” or “most of the time” for play music or movies,” which is clear indication from Campbell & Kwak (2010) study of mobile phone users using their phones for entertainment purposes. And when I asked Rudy during the interview if he used his mobile phone to listen to music or watch movies he said, “of course” and that he did so to pass time or to play music in the background while he would be in his room do other things. Using smart phones for entertainment purposes is supported. Ramierz, Dimmick, Feaster, and Lin (2008) study mention sharing information about hobbies and personal interests, which is exactly what Rudy explained for the reason for using Facebook. Rudy explained how sharing photos and status statements allow him to share information with his friends and family, and for his friends and family to do the same.

85% of my participants disagree with Wirth, Pape, and Karnowski (2008) study that Generation X and Y use smart phones as fashion accessories. When I asked Alyssa about if she considers her smart phone a fashion statement, she responded with a “no.” So I asked her what does she consider it to be then? And she said it’s more about how the phone fits with her lifestyle, and how it’s able to do the things she needs it to do. Lastly, Wei (2008) study was highly supported with both Rudy and Allyssa. Allyssa did admit the more she used her smart phone the more prone she was to continue using her phone to stay informed with others.

Overall, smart phones are used for entertainment, sharing and seeking information, and communication purposes, so users can stay connected with others. The fashion accessory statement has little value of smart phone users. Generation X and Y users want to be connected all the time to their friends and family. And to be able to share information with others immediately was the most important value Rudy and Allyssa received. Both mention their gratification they received from smart phones is being connected all the time.

Limitations and Future Research

Mobile phones are constantly changing due to technology, and the features are constantly changing. I have come to learn that knowing exactly what the main use of smart phones is only conceivable during the time you research. Meaning 10 years from now this research is highly outdated as technology advances every year. Future research would have to be continued every 1-5 years to be accurate and up to date on how and why Generation X and Y use smart phones. Lastly, the concept of being “connected” was brought up the most and should be further researched. Especially with social networks (i.e., FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace, Instagram, Yelp, and many others) being used worldwide.