In recent decades, the Uses and Gratifications Theory has regained acclaim and popularity. As a consequence of the changes in technological development brought about by the Internet, the focus of inquiry has shifted from audiences to users. Wearable devices have digitalized and deinstitutionalized self-tracking; therefore, it is essential to understand the motives for using these devices, the uses and gratifications users obtain, and the comparison between sought and obtained gratifications, which was the goal of this research. Data were collected using three focus groups and analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which brought us to the identification of five most common uses and gratifications: self-tracking, sports and activities, information, convenience, and motivation. Moreover, other findings demonstrated that the users’ purchase decisions and the use of wearable self-tracking devices are influenced by a complex combination of motives, device characteristics, and life circumstances, and that the obtained gratifications often exceed saught gratifications, mainly due to the technological affordances of wearable devices. Consistent with the Uses and Gratifications Theory, we confirm that gratifications are rooted in the social and psychological origins of needs and that they evolve in the context of use of new technologies. Along with the key findings, we also propose avenues for further research, such as longitudinal studies and quantitative analyses, which could provide additional insights into the use of wearable self-tracking devices.
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