Exploring the relationship between mobile application use and political information seeking and political discussion

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between the use of mobile applications and two types of political behavior: political information seeking and political discussion. Based on a 2012 national survey of smartphone users in South Korea, this study found positive relationships between (a) the use of e-commerce, information, literacy, and utility apps and (b) political information seeking and political discussion. By contrast, this study found that the use of relational apps was negatively related to political information seeking and not related to political discussion. The use of entertainment apps was not associated with either behavior. This study provides a starting point for examination of mobile apps as they continuously grow and develop toward user engagement, and furthermore shed light on their effect on political participation.