Device Mediation And Online Behaviour

From the research into trust, confidence and online behaviour, a number of themes emerged showing a difference in how participants use the web differently depending on the device being used to access it. A diary study-interview approach was used to gather the data, the results of which indicated that nextgeneration users (the heaviest of web users, and those more accustomed to Web 2.0 and mobile devices) restricted their range of online activities, particularly when using smartphones – their most frequently used device. The results of the interview pointed to the idea that usability remained a factor of paramount importance – not merely the capability and convenience. In addition, elements of the study eluded to the concept that the ‘mobile app’ coupled with smartphones have the potential capacity to provide a legitimate substitute to traditional modes of web access, i.e. desktop PC’s, laptops, tablets.