The uses and gratifications of mobile internet among the South African students

This paper investigates the factors that affect the use of mobile internet among the South African students. This is done by using the uses and gratifications (U&G) framework to understand the motivations and extract the intrinsic needs of mobile phone users. Drawing on previous studies on the mobile phone and traditional internet, a model has been developed highlighting the proposed U&Gs. This model was then validated with data gathered through interviews conducted with university students. Our findings are mostly in keeping with previous studies, showing that the U&Gs of mobile internet are an intersection of the UGs of the mobile phone and traditional internet. In addition, this study shows that (1) there is a strong social motivation for mobile internet use; (2) there are inhibiting factors which affect the use of mobile internet; (3) mobile internet may be the preferred and in some cases, the only, means of internet access.