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Everyone does it—differently: A window into emerging adults’ smartphone use

Author

Listed:
  • Nastasia Griffioen

    (Radboud University Nijmegen)

  • Hanneke Scholten

    (University of Twente)

  • Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff

    (University of Groningen)

  • Marieke Rooij

    (University of Twente)

  • Isabela Granic

    (Radboud University Nijmegen)

Abstract

Concerns regarding smartphones’ and social media’s impact on youth remain high amidst a growing realization that current research is not designed to confirm (or refute) such concerns. This study aims to answer fundamental questions regarding youths’ use of smartphones, by implementing a novel user-centric research method. The smartphone use of 114 emerging adults was recorded, followed by in-depth interviews that incorporated the recording and in-app information to help participants recall their behaviours, motivations, and feelings. Results indicate that smartphone use is indeed ubiquitous; 88 out of 114 participants started using their smartphone as soon as they were left alone. However, the findings of this study also demonstrate great diversity in smartphone use, in e.g. social media platforms used and motivations for using different apps. These results illustrate that it no longer seems sensible to refer to “screen time” as if it represents a homogeneous phenomenon across youth. Additionally, preliminary indications have been found of relationships between individual differences in mental health indices and variations in smartphone use. The current study provides new insights into youths’ smartphone use and its relationship with wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Nastasia Griffioen & Hanneke Scholten & Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff & Marieke Rooij & Isabela Granic, 2021. "Everyone does it—differently: A window into emerging adults’ smartphone use," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:8:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-021-00863-1
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-021-00863-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hanna Krasnova & Thomas Widjaja & Peter Buxmann & Helena Wenninger & Izak Benbasat, 2015. "Research Note—Why Following Friends Can Hurt You: An Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Envy on Social Networking Sites among College-Age Users," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 585-605, September.
    2. Krasnova, Hanna & Widjaja, Thomas & Buxmann, Peter & Wenninger, Helena & Benbasat, Izak, 2015. "Research Note—Why Following Friends Can Hurt You: An Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Envy on Social Networking Sites among College-Age Users," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 73319, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
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    Cited by:

    1. Tianyang Huang, 2023. "Using SOR framework to explore the driving factors of older adults smartphone use behavior," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.

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