Technology Appropriation Revisited Mediation Theory as a New Philosophy of Technology for Information Systems Research

Management Summary The goal of this study is to understand the use of information technology such as smartphones or social media. Users of either Apple or Android phones often feel the brand as part of their identity. They are Apple-users, or Android-users. With social media users are often in debate on what to share with whom. Questions revolve around whether or not to share party pictures with colleagues or being 'friends' online at all with these colleagues. There are different ways to review the use of such technologies. Within Information Systems (IS) research, there are three main lines of thought: 1) User acceptance theory: the central question is predicting how likely a certain type of user is to accept a certain type of technology. This is achieved by focusing on the user's opinions of the technology. A young person that views mobile internet access as useful and easy to use is more likely to accept the smartphone technology than an older person who does not see the added value and focuses on the difficulty of using a smartphone. 2) Technology appropriation models: in use of a technology, its meaning is transformed by the user. Someone unfamiliar with smartphones may not see its difference from an 'old' cell phone. However, for an experienced smartphone user, the smartphone presents a world of possibilities. 3) Structurational model: technology is both the product and the medium of human action. In appropriation, users attribute a specific meaning to the technology, as described above. However, that technology also mediates human action by facilitating and constraining the performance of certain actions. Mobile internet access provides numerous chat and instant messaging services and thus new ways to contact other people. Because of these services, making a 'traditional' phone call may seem off, let alone to send an expensive SMS. This study proposes a new philosophy to conceptualize the use of technology: mediation theory. In a classical approach, technology is conceived as a neutral instrument. Someone wants to contact a friend, and uses his cell phone as a means to his pre-defined ends. However, an instrumental view does not help to understand the influence of the smartphone as opposed to a regular cell phone. But on the other hand, opening the door to 'influence of technology' leads to a deterministic view in which technology is a big system controlling our lives. Such a view leaves no room for assessing …