Multiple Information Devices Users in the Era of Digital Convergence

Abstract

Predictions of a coming age of digital convergence bring to mind a convergence of the information devices used by consumers. In actuality, information devices are becoming more diversified. This study surveys and analyzes smartphone users (N = 1000) of the video-sharing service YouTube, with results showing that (1) users of a variety of information devices tend to more actively post and view videos than those that do not and (2) users are divided into two camps-those who have a variety of information devices and therefore tend to post videos and those who only use a smartphone intensively. In other words, we show that users with multiple information devices make more active use of these devices.