Social media use and its impact on intrinsic motivation in Generation Z: a case study from Poland
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 23 November 2020
Issue publication date: 28 May 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Activities on social platforms affect the audience. They may impact brand perception, purchasing decisions or motivation to act. Motivation makes people behave in certain ways. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the use of social media and its impact on intrinsic motivation, with a focus on Generation Z users (born between 1994 and 2002).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted multifaceted survey research among full-time and part-time students of one of the largest universities in Poland. The survey was carried out on students of three major fields of study. The analysis involved 427 questionnaires. The data was analysed both with unidimensional and two-dimensional statistical analysis.
Findings
Although the respondents indicated some “motivational aspects” of social media usage, most of them were characterised by a passive attitude and infrequent activity on such websites. Not many of the respondents published actively. The respondents expected valuable content but were not inclined to disseminate it.
Originality/value
Publishing of own content and ability to view others’ content in social media may not be enough to increase the user base of a social platform. One way to do this may be narrowing down or diversification of the array of additional services and functionalities that induce users to increase the use rate.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: Funded with a subsidy of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice for 2020.
Citation
Król, K. and Zdonek, D. (2021), "Social media use and its impact on intrinsic motivation in Generation Z: a case study from Poland", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 70 No. 4/5, pp. 442-458. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-08-2020-0113
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited