Abstract

Inter-generational comparisons were made between mobile phone users and non-users in their differential behaviors and attitudes concerning mobile phone usage. A special attention was focused on the relation between the usage of mobile phones and post-materialistic values among the younger and the older age groups in Korea. As a result of a survey on 371 participants (20s and 40s in their age), it was found that the younger generation tended to use their mobile phones more expressively with their same-sex friends by way of text messages as well as voice messages. In contrast, the older generation mostly used their mobile phones in an instrumental way with their family and same-sex friends primarily based on voice messages. Openness to change and unwillingness to follow conventional rules among the youngers were also in parallel with their higher post-materialism and expressive usage of mobile phones.