Abstract:

The importance of the symbolic properties of goods has been explored among adult consumers, but there have been less attention given to the symbolic consumption of young people. This study explores the subject of symbolic consumption with specific reference to mobile phone devices in the teenage market. Thirty-two young people were interviewed and age and sex variations are considered among four age ranges: middle school (14-15), high school (16-18), university (19-22) and higher education/first job (23-25). The results suggest that mobile use is closely bound to the adolescent’s self-concept. Therefore the social, the entertainment, the self-construction, the consumption skills and the self-creation dimensions linked to teen’s use of the cell phone devices disappear or appear with the age. The findings of this study illustrate this consumption practises and provides evidence about the symbolic dimension emerging in the use of mobile phone devices among different periods of life.