Are Smartphones Enhancing or Displacing Face-to-Face Communication With Close Ties? A Panel Study Among Adults

Authors

  • Anja Stevic University of Vienna
  • Desirée Schmuck KU Leuven
  • Kathrin Karsay KU Leuven/FWO Vlaanderen
  • Jörg Matthes University of Vienna

Keywords:

lose ties, displacement hypothesis, enhancement hypothesis, face-to-face communication, panel study, smartphone use

Abstract

Previous research has revealed inconsistent findings regarding enhancement or displacement of face-to-face (FtF) communication due to social media and smartphone use. We argue that the occurrence of enhancement or displacement effects is contingent on the specific type of smartphone use. Specifically, we tested how adults’ communicative and noncommunicative smartphone uses influence the quantity of FtF communication and quality of relationships with family and friends. Results of a two-wave panel survey (NTime2 = 461) revealed a positive influence of communicative smartphone use on quantity of FtF communication with family and friends, supporting the enhancement hypothesis. Quality of relationships with close ties, however, was not influenced by communicative smartphone use. In line with the displacement hypothesis, we found a negative influence of noncommunicative smartphone use on quantity of FtF communication with close ties, but not on quality of relationships with family and friends.

Author Biographies

Anja Stevic, University of Vienna

Anja Stevic is a PhD candidate at the Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 29, 1090 Vienna (Austria), phone: +43 1 4277 49318, anja.stevic@univie.ac.at. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9703-2225 

Desirée Schmuck, KU Leuven

Desirée Schmuck (PhD, University of Vienna) is an Assistant Professor at the School of Mass Communication Research, KU Leuven, Parkstraat 45 (box 3603), 3000 Leuven (Belgium), phone: +32 16 32 74 44, desiree.schmuck@kuleuven.be.ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9492-6052  

Kathrin Karsay, KU Leuven/FWO Vlaanderen

Kathrin Karsay (PhD, University of Vienna) is a post-doctoral researcher at the School of Mass Communication Research, KU Leuven, Parkstraat 45 (box 3603), 3000 Leuven (Belgium), phone: +32 16 37 65 32, kathrin.karsay@kuleuven.be. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0230-9664

Jörg Matthes, University of Vienna

Jörg Matthes (PhD, University of Zurich) is a Professor at the Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 29, 1090 Vienna (Austria), phone: +43 1 4277 49307, joerg.matthes@univie.ac.at. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9408-955X 

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Published

2021-01-27

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Articles