From SMS to SNS: The Use of the Internet on the Mobile Phone among Young Danes

The focus of this paper is on the adaptation and use of the internet on the mobile among young Danes. The analysis builds on quantitative and qualitative data from a pilot study conducted among students at the IT University during the spring of 2011. These findings are supported theoretically and by other studies, specifically from the Mobile Media, Mobile Youth study from spring 2011. The main point is that the spread and frequency of the use of the internet on mobile phones has increased rapidly and over short time primarily along with the adaptation of smart phones and the consequently easy, cheap and customizable use of the mobile internet. We find that the internet is mainly used on the mobile phone because it is possible, easy and convenient. The main arguments for not using the internet on the mobile – never minding accessibility or not – are that it is not possible due to handset or subscription limitations, that it is too cumbersome to be practical or too expensive to be worth it. Notably the majority of young Danes do have a laptop and extensive wifi access so the purchase and use of smart phones and internet on the mobile is not likely to be THE potential internet access. Altogether we conclude that we are studying a phenomenon in the making and changing patterns and perceptions of use. Indicators of these changes point towards a number of new/necessary future studies.