1. Mobiles everywhere.
- Author
-
Thulin, Eva and Vilhelmson, Bertil
- Subjects
WIRELESS communications ,CELL phones ,CELL phone systems ,INTERNAL migration ,SOCIAL context ,DECISION making ,TIME management - Abstract
This article explores how young people's everyday patterns of social communication are affected by the increased use of mobile phones. We discuss three areas in which there are potential implications: (i) contact patterns and face-to-face interaction; (ii) other forms of spatial mobility; and (iii) individual planning and use of time. Empirically, we focus on change and rely on a two-wave panel study of 40 young persons living in Göteborg, Sweden. Data were collected through time-use diaries and in-depth interviews. The results show that young people's total interactions with their social environment in- crease as the mobile promotes a flexible lifestyle of instant exchange and constant up- dates. Thresholds — regarding space, time and content — for communicative action are reduced. A more impulsive practice of decision-making evolves and people become more careless about time-keeping. With the reduction in the constraints of time and space, the instant access of the mobile becomes difficult to refuse, and perceived dependency on mobiles increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF