Topic: The effects of mobilecasting usage to youths’ leisure activities – Does mobilecasting usage change how youths today spend their leisure time?
Introduction
The rise in popularity of portable electronic devices such as laptops and handheld computers, tablet PCs, digital cameras, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), containing rich media capabilities, decreasing in physical sizes and increasing in storage capacities, is helping to fuel a transition from our current generation to a ‘Mobile Age’ (Lee & Chan, 2007). As of 2011, it is shown that there are 5.9 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide (87% of world population), of which, 1.2 billion are mobile web users (Asia being the top region). Mobilecasting refers to the distribution of a digital media file through the use of a mobile phone or device over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on other media devices such as computers and portable media players.
Mannell and Kleiber (1997) (as cited in Parr & Lashua, 2004) suggested that leisure has alternately been defined and operationalized as an objective or subjective phenomenon. Taking into account the objective phenomenon aspect, leisure is defined as an activity or set of activities carried out. However, it is sometimes criticized as it is arguable that different people have different opinions as to what is considered a leisure activity. For this study, we will take into consideration some of the most popularly viewed leisure activities according to the young generation.
Along with the transition towards the “Mobile Age”, mobilecasting too is evolving. With the advancement in technology today, people can now carry out various functions through their mobile phones. Hanson (2011) states that today, virtually every phone has a wide range of hardware and software capabilities, including unrestricted access to the open Web. A mobile phone is no longer just used for texting and making calls, but can now also access the Internet, be used as an MP3 player, and upload or stream various audio and visual files on various streaming sites. It can even play a role as a mobile computer. Hence, mobile phones these days have evolved into a new term, that is, mobile devices, as it clearly can carry out more functions than just regular telephonic ones.
As the world inevitably transitions towards the “Mobile Age”, it can be seen that the leisure activities of the young generation too are transforming. Now, with the ability of the mobile phones these days that allows easy access to the Internet and other entertainment sources, the preferences of the young generation have shifted from outdoor to indoor activities. When adolescents' strong developmental needs, such as personal identity, autonomy, and relationships with peers may not be fulfilled through physical activities, they may then shed social restraints, which then leads to Internet addiction (Lin & Tsai, 2002) (as cited in Lin et al. 2009) and with the ability of Internet access via the mobile phone, it turns to addiction towards their mobile phones. Also, along with this transformation, it is noticeable that the young generation today participate in more media time as opposed to active time.
Problem Statement
One of the aims of this study is to reveal the possible problems and negative influences of mobilecasting usage towards the young generation. One such problem would be the addiction of the young generation towards the use of mobile phones. With the advancement in technology, there is now a wide variety of new mobile phone functions, including camera, computer, music player, GPS (global positioning system), and gaming features. The mobile phone is no longer seen as only a tool of communication but an indispensable instrument of an individual’s social and work life (Takao, Takahashi & Kitamura, 2009).
Another problem that can be assessed is the influence of mobilecasting usage towards face to face communication time. Previous research on this matter has come to show debatable conclusions regarding whether or not it is a complement or substitute to face to face communication. However, it is noted that if this form of communication is used more as a complement to face to face communication as opposed to a substitute, it can help facilitate the maintenance of interpersonal relationships (Kujath, 2011).
This study will also carry out research on how mobilecasting usage among the young generation can affect their physical leisure activities. With regards to technological addictions, the mobile phone has many attributes and characteristics that make it very attractive and increase its use, particularly in adolescence (Choliz, 2010). Because of that, the young generation finds more interest in participating in virtual leisure activities as opposed to physical ones such as sports.
So how much exactly does the usage of mobilecasting by the young generation influence their leisure activities? This study will aim to answer this critical question.
Purpose of the Content
In regards to what has been stated in the problem statement section, this study aims to achieve certain objectives through research.
The first objective is to determine the relationship between the motivation for mobilecasting usage and the mobilecasting usage patterns among the young generation. Through this objective, we are able to study the factors contributing to the adoption of mobilecasting usage and also what are the mobilecasting usage patterns of the young generation and how they are linked.
The second research objective is to examine the relationship between the mobilecasting usage patterns and the uses of mobilecasting among the young generation. Through this objective, we will take a look at the mobilecasting usage patterns among the young generation and what is its link with their uses for mobilecasting.
The last objective is to examine the relationship between mobilecasting usage patterns and leisure activities among the young generation. Through this objective, we can then take a look at how the mobilecasting usage patterns of the young generation affect their choice in leisure activities.
Review of Content
Three articles on mobile phone usage will be analyzed. The first is Verkasalo’s (2009) study of contextual patterns in mobile service usage, that is, the paper seeks to study how mobile services are used in different contexts. In this research, the contexts were divided into home, office and ‘‘on the move’’. It is found that through this research, multimedia usage such as camera and music playback functions, experiences more usage ‘‘on the move’’ than in office or home contexts. The same applies for mobile Internet usage such as for browsing, email and instant messaging functions. Verkasalo (2009) notes that, home or office substitutes for these services exist and so there is simply no need for the service. Voice call usage, however, receives relatively more usage at home than at office or ‘‘on the move’’. In conclusion, it is noted that the results show that multimedia and Internet services are used quite actively ‘‘on the move’’, whereas legacy SMS and voice services experience more evenly distributed usage among home, office and ‘‘on the move’’ contexts.
The second article is a qualitative exploration of how belongingness and social identification relate to mobile phone use amongst Australian youth by Walsh, White & Young (2009). Based on their findings, it emerged that the primary benefit of mobile phone use was connectedness to others, which involves not only physical connection, but the knowledge that you are psychologically connected with others via your mobile phone. Throughout the discussions, the need to belong also emerged as an important factor in influencing the young generation’s mobile phone usage. As for the concept of social identification, it is found that mobile phone use enabled participants to be a part of their social group and was a normative behaviour of friendship groups. In conclusion, this study provides insight about how social psychological factors influence mobile phone use amongst Australian youth and provides a foundation for further research in this area. Young people value being constantly connected to others via their mobile phones with the need to belong and social identity processes being related to their mobile phone usage (Walsh et al., 2009).
The third article is Tian, Shi & Yang’s (2009) study of consumers’ attitudes toward mobile phones and its relation to mobile phone usage. The results of this study have confirmed that attitudes toward mobile phones have a three-dimensional structure, that is, as a sense of security, sense of self-character extension, and sense of dependence. As the findings of the research has shown significant correlations between attitudes toward mobile phones and mobile phone usage, the gap between theory and practice is filled. For instance, people who enjoy taking photographs, playing games, or downloading tones or wallpaper may pay more attention to show their identity and character by using the mobile phone in a personalized way. As for those who frequently make calls or send SMS, they may have a tendency to depend on mobile phones (Tian et al., 2009).
Next, we will look at one article about young generation leisure hour activities. The article shows Gorely, Marshall, Biddle & Cameron’s (2007) study on patterns of sedentary behaviour and physical activity among adolescents in the United Kingdom. The results of the study confirm that the majority of leisure time behaviours that young people engage in are sedentary behaviours such as television viewing and use of other screen based media such as mobile phones. It is shown that, only a small proportion of adolescents adopt sports and exercise as their leading leisure-time activity, and this holds especially true for girls (Gorely et al., 2007).
It is therefore seen that there is a relationship between the mobilecasting usage and the leisure hour activities of the young generation. As with the advancement of technology, mobile phones these days have multiple forms of usages, be it for entertainment or information seeking purposes. With these various usages available, the young generation of today are gearing towards more indoor-based leisure activities as opposed to engaging in outdoor activities such as exercise. Engaging in social networking sites also proves to be an act in order to gain popularity and be up to date with the popular groups. These sites too can influence the participation of the young generation in outdoor leisure activities. This research hence aims to study the influences of mobilecasting usage towards the leisure hour activities of the young generation.
Research Question
References
Choliz, M. (2010) Mobile Phone Addiction: A Point of Issue. Addiction, 105(2), p373-374
Gorely, T., Marshall, S.J., Biddle, S.J.H., & Cameron, N. (2007) Patterns of Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Among Adolescents in the United Kingdom:Project STIL. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(6), p521-531
Hanson, C.W. (2011) Chapter 2: Mobile Devices in 2011. Library Technology Reports, 47(2), p11-23
Kujath, C.L. (2011) Facebook and MySpace: Complement or Substitute for Face-to-Face Interaction? CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 14 (1/2), p75-78
Lee, M.J.W. & Chan, A. (2007) Pervasive, lifestyle-integrated mobile learning for distance learners: an analysis and unexpected results from a podcasting study. Open Learning, 22(3), p201-218
Lin, C.H., Lin, S.L. & Wu, C.P. (2009) The Effects of Parental Monitoring and Leisure Boredom on Adolescents’ Internet Addiction. Adolescence, 44(176), p993-1004
MobiThinking (2012) Global mobile statistics 2012. Retrieved on January 29, 2012, from http://mobithinking.com/mobile-marketing-tools/latest-mobile-stats
Parr, M.G. & Lashua, B.D. (2004) What is Leisure? The Perceptions of Recreation Practitioners and Others. Leisure Sciences, 26(1), p1-17
Takao, M., Takahashi, S. & Kitamura, M. (2009) Addictive Personality and Problematic Mobile Phone Use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(5), p501-507
Tian, L., Shi, J., & Yang, Z. (2009) Why Does Half the World's Population Have a Mobile Phone? An Examination of Consumers' Attitudes toward Mobile Phones. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(5), p513-516
Verkasalo, H. (2009) Contextual patterns in mobile service usage. Personal & Ubiquitous Computing, 13(5), p331-342
