How do Portuguese young adults engage and use m-apps in daily life? An online questionnaire survey

Abstract

The rise of the mobile era has brought ubiquity in media access, constant connection to other people and interconnectedness with devices as part of life. Considering mobile devices and mobile applications (m-apps) as an environment that allows multitasking, this article is interested in understanding the performance of popular m-apps in the daily lives of young adults in Portugal. It is also focused on how these apps relate to their personal contexts and experiences. To this end, an online questionnaire survey was conducted using a quantitative-extensive methodological strategy. The research involved applying a set of data collection questions to a representative sample of Portuguese young adults (N = 1500) aged 18-30. The results show that more than 90% of Portuguese young adults use m-apps every day, emphasising social media applications (daily use between 81,32% and 91,21%). It is also important to note that the use of m-apps dialogues with their personal contexts in a substantially different manner than such app’s perceived relevance. Social and entertainment apps are more consumed and show an extension of the self that is not perceived to be as important as apps with social uses.