A Social Context for Adolescent Use of Mobile Phones

During early adolescence (e.g. aged between 13 and 15 years) communication and connectedness with peers is an essential part of their self-identity; mobiles phones are a conduit that maintains both communication and connectedness among adolescents whereby social interactions and connectedness are not limited by place, context or time. To study mobile phone usage among adolescents, Grade 9 (n= 218) middle-school students in Queensland, Australia were surveyed using a self-developed questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between mobile phone use and developmental frameworks. The study results suggest that adolescents use their mobile phones as a way of expressing their sense of self and as a means of communicating quickly between peers.