Media Effects Research Lab - Research Archive
U&G Study for Photo Memory Notification
Student Researcher(s)
Keerthana Govindarazan (Ph.D Candidate);
Kumari Davis (Masters Candidate);
Soumita Mukherjee (Ph.D Candidate);
Faculty Supervisor
Introduction
This study delves into the uses and gratifications of photo memory notifications (PMNs) in the context of digital photo applications on smartphones. PMNs serve as reminders of past events, experiences, and personal connections, often triggering a range of emotional responses and providing opportunities for users to revisit and share memories. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research techniques, this research aims to uncover the underlying motivations, usage patterns, and gratifications users derive from engaging with these notifications. The primary goal of the present study was to examine the uses and gratifications of PMNs and memory suggestions curated by smartphone gallery applications, as well as to understand the behavioral and psychological effects they have on users.
RQ1: What gratifications do individuals seek when interacting with photo memory notifications?
RQ2: How do these gratifications influence people's engagement with the photo memory notifications (PMNs) and other behavior outcomes?
RQ3: How do these gratifications influence people psychologically and overall well-being?
We take a traditional approach to uses and gratifications to assess the content-oriented gratifications derived from these photo memories. We also take a U&G 3.0 (Chen et al., 2023) approach to understand the automation gratifications associated with automatic curation and retrieval of photo memories.
Method
To achieve this, we employed a two-phase research design. In the first phase, we conducted in-depth interviews with smartphone users to gain insights into their experiences with PMNs and identify the various gratifications they derive from these notifications. In the second phase, we developed a survey instrument based on the findings from the interviews and administered it to a larger sample of smartphone users to quantify the prevalence of the identified gratifications and examine their relationships with users' engagement with PMNs.
Results
Through our qualitative analysis, we identified seven distinct gratifications associated with PMNs: nostalgia, convenience, user control, social interaction, entertainment, escapism, and reflection. Nostalgia emerged as a dominant theme, as users reported that PMNs often evoked feelings of longing for the past and allowed them to reminisce about cherished memories. Convenience and user control were also highlighted as important factors, as users appreciated the automated curation of memories by their smartphone galleries and the ability to customize their notification settings to suit their preferences.
Social interaction emerged as a key gratification and a significant predictor of user engagement with PMNs. The content of these notifications acted as conversation starters with friends and family, both near and far, enabling users to maintain and strengthen their social relationships. This gratification encourages users to make future plans with loved ones, capture more photos, and share previously unshared images.
Entertainment and escapism were identified as additional gratifications derived from engaging with PMNs. Users reported that they found the content of these notifications enjoyable and entertaining, and that they often served as a welcome distraction from daily stresses and routines. Reflection was another notable gratification, as users valued the opportunity to reflect on personal growth and change over time, as well as to gain new perspectives on past experiences.
Our quantitative analysis confirmed the prevalence of the identified gratifications among smartphone users and revealed that social interaction gratification was indeed a significant predictor of engagement with PMNs. This finding can be attributed to the notion that reminiscing as a social activity is generally a well-received form of conversation, as people thrive on human interaction and meaningful connections.
Conclusion
This study contributes valuable insights into the motivations and gratifications that drive users to engage with photo memory notifications in smartphone digital photo applications. Our findings have important implications for the design and development of digital photo applications, as they highlight the need to consider the diverse gratifications sought by users and to provide features and functionalities that support these gratifications. Furthermore, our research sheds light on the potential of PMNs as tools for promoting social interaction and fostering connections between individuals. As technology continues to evolve and shape our lives, it is essential to understand how these innovations can be harnessed to enhance our well-being and foster meaningful relationships.
For more details regarding the study contact
Dr. S. Shyam Sundar by e-mail at sss12@psu.edu or by telephone at (814) 865-2173