TY - JOUR
T1 - How culture matters in internet usage
T2 - The U.S.A: The South Korea
AU - Kim, Sangmoon
AU - Ju, Chang Bum
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2019
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - This study investigates cultural influences on the way that the Internet is utilised. We specifically examine how online time is allocated between information searching and communication in two culturally distinct societies: South Korea and the United States. Based on the argument that personal communication in South Korea shows a higher level of contexting, which is not easily transmitted over the Internet, we hypothesise that Koreans spend relatively less time on online communication than Americans do. Our analyses of time-use data support this hypothesis. We find that the difference between the societies is not in the length of time spent on online communication, but the choice of the Internet as a communication medium. Koreans are less likely to view the Internet as a communication medium than Americans, although they are equally active once involved in this activity.
AB - This study investigates cultural influences on the way that the Internet is utilised. We specifically examine how online time is allocated between information searching and communication in two culturally distinct societies: South Korea and the United States. Based on the argument that personal communication in South Korea shows a higher level of contexting, which is not easily transmitted over the Internet, we hypothesise that Koreans spend relatively less time on online communication than Americans do. Our analyses of time-use data support this hypothesis. We find that the difference between the societies is not in the length of time spent on online communication, but the choice of the Internet as a communication medium. Koreans are less likely to view the Internet as a communication medium than Americans, although they are equally active once involved in this activity.
KW - Internet usage and culture
KW - Online communication
KW - Technology and society
KW - Time-use data
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077271894&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1163/15685314-04706004
DO - 10.1163/15685314-04706004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85077271894
SN - 1568-4849
VL - 47
SP - 701
EP - 721
JO - Asian Journal of Social Science
JF - Asian Journal of Social Science
IS - 6
ER -