Meta Trends of Digitally Induced Temporal Change in Germany and China between Micro-, Meso-, and Macro Levels.

This paper explores how the internet changes the way we deal with and plan time in Germany and China. It looks at culture and media theories of temporal change from Germany and China, differentiates these according to micro, meso, and macro levels and integrates them in a micro-meso-macro-model. We consider network, connectivity, acceleration, and mediatization theories, and place particular emphasis on the effects of social media, online journalism, and algorithmic intermediaries. We then inquire in which ways the sub dimensions of the nine-dimensional construct 'temporal understanding' change through internet-mediated communication. Findings suggest a temporal homogenization in both countries laid out as Meta trends: The focus on the 'future' is reduced, 'present' focus increases and the 'past' fluctuates paradoxically between decrease and increase. Moreover, 'fatalism' and the 'pace of life' increase and with it 'interacting experience (polychronicity)' and 'future as trust-based interaction', with the last sub-dimension only increasing in China. 'Instrumental experience (monochronicity)' and the 'future as planned expectation' decrease. These Meta trends encompass inconsistencies and paradoxical notion and move past binary classifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]