Conceptualising appropriation, usage and gratifications of new media technologies: The e-teen model perspective

Abstract

The study argues that teens (e-teens) have different characteristics, attitudes, motivations and needs regarding new media usage and appropriation and, thus, have to be studied in a different context than any other group. It is also contended that theories and models regarding uses, gratifications and appropriation of new media technologies are generalised and therefore cannot aptly be applied to the study of e-teens. Grounded in concepts from uses and gratifications, model of technology acceptance and technology appropriation theories, as well as e-teen literature, the study proposes a conceptual model that strives to explicitly explain how teens use and appropriate new media technologies. It is intended that the model is adopted in empirical studies that aim to study how teens use and appropriate new media technologies, as well as tested for its representativeness and durability.