Cultural Value in Instant Messenger: An Analysis Between Mexico and The U.S.

RM 207

The research study is focused on the cultural value of Instant Messenger between the U.S. and Mexico. The purpose of this project is to examine the cultural differences between Mexico and the U.S. and how those differences might affect the cultures use of Instant Messenger. This paper presents a country’s generalized culture, thus using the terms country(s) and culture(s) interchangeably. Contemporary media devices provide innovative tools that were non-existing in traditional media. Given that people worldwide are using Instant Messenger in large numbers (Li, 2016) this topic is important to study in the intercultural field because various cultures might be accepting the usage of Instant Messenger differently. It is important to fill in the gap between cultures and the acceptance of Instant Messenger because of it prevalence in society. The research study will first identify the difference between Instant Messenger, and traditional media, while defining what is meant by Instant Messenger. It will also explain the term national culture and provide the four dimensions in which Mexico and the U.S. have the greatest cultural differences. Third, the research also includes methods, such as Technology Acceptance Model, in order to analyze how cultural differences shape the value, acceptance, and use of Instant Messenger. Lastly, I will look at this social phenomena through the lens of Durfee, Shinnar, & Gonzalez (2006) and Heales, McCoy, and Xu (2005) to provide a deeper understanding on the use of Instant Messenger in Mexico and the U.S.