The studies of Katz and his colleagues laid a theoretical foundation for building the uses and gratifications approach. Since then, the research on this subject has been strengthened and extended.[22] The current status of uses and gratifications is still based on Katz's first analysis, particularly as new media forms have emerged in an electronic information age when people have more options of media use.
Mobile phone usage[edit]
Mobile phones, a comparatively new technology, have many uses and gratifications attached to them. Due to their nature of mobility, constant access, and options to both add and access content, this field is expanding with new research on the motivations behind using mobile phones. In general, people use mobile phones for the following uses and gratifications: sociability, entertainment, status, immediate access, instrumentality, mobility, and psychological reassurance.[23] Researchers have also identified that the uses and gratifications for contributing mobile content differ from those for retrieving mobile content.[24]
The specific function of text messaging has also been studied to find its uses and gratifications and explore any potential gender differences.[25] Seven uses and gratifications, in order of importance, have been proposed: accessibility, relaxation, escape, entertainment, information seeking, coordination for business, socialization, status seeking. The results also displayed gender differences, implying that social and societal expectations for females around independence and connection were a factor in their uses and gratification seeking.[25] A study on instant messaging found that women chatted longer and for sociability; men chatted for less time per session and for entertainment and relaxation.