Final answer:
The student's question addresses the growth of the mobile marketing platform, which they believe is slow due to low usage rates of smartphones for shopping.
However, data indicates high engagement with smartphones for communication and online services, pointing to potential growth opportunities for mobile marketing.
The widespread and diverse use of smartphones suggests a more complex scenario than initially presented.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the student's question revolves around the premise that mobile marketing is a slow growing digital marketing platform due to a low percentage of smartphone users engaging in shopping-related activities.
However, considering data from Steele and Pew Research Center, it is evident that smartphone usage for various purposes is quite pervasive.
For instance, Steele highlighted that 54 percent of mobile phone users used their phones for messaging, while 40 percent for calls, indicating that smartphones are an integral part of daily communication.
Furthermore, Smith (2012) observed that 67 percent of users check their phones for messages or calls even when their phones did not alert them, underscoring the high level of engagement people have with their devices.
Pew Research Center's findings also underline the importance of smartphones in accessing online services among different demographics.
These statistics suggest that the mobile marketing platform may, in reality, have potential for growth due to the extensive use of smartphones for a myriad of activities beyond just calls and messaging, which includes engagement with digital media and social experiences.
Several insights such as 44% of cell owners sleeping with their phones to not miss updates, and the usage of smartphones for staying in touch, planning, and increasing productivity, provide a more nuanced understanding of smartphone interaction and its consequent marketing opportunities.