Mobile lifestyles: Conceptualizing heterogeneity in mobile youth culture

Abstract

Adolescents’ characteristic understanding and use of mobile phones have led observers to speak of a “mobile youth culture.” This article explores whether we can differentiate lifestyles within mobile youth culture. We construct a user typology of Flemish adolescent mobile phone users based on mobile phone gratifications. Eight gratifications were identified. Using these as segmentation variables, a cluster analysis differentiated a devoted ( N = 204), dependent ( N = 156), pragmatic ( N = 143), and disinterested ( N = 90) mobile lifestyle. These groups differed significantly in demographics and social–psychological characteristics, indicating that youths domesticate mobile phones in their life in response to the problems and opportunities that cross their particular path toward adulthood.