Connection Cues: Activating the Norms and Habits of Social Connectedness

Abstract

Staying “connected” has become a societal norm and a personal habit. The goal of this article is to explain how individuals internalize—and activate—social connectedness during daily life. As such, we take a sociocognitive approach to integrate perspectives on implicit societal expectations (connection norms) and automatic individual behavior (connection habits). Based on this framework, we present a model for how nonconscious “triggers” to check a mobile device, or connection cues, affect the flow of communication. The model outlines types of connection cues, factors that moderate sensitivity to connection norms, and activation paths for connection habits. Altogether, connection cues determine when and where individuals “connect” through automatic perception.

Reconceptualizing Communication Overload and Building a Theoretical Foundation

“…A flurry of new terms is developing around the concept of overload including connection overload (LaRose, Connolly, Lee, Li, & Hales, 2014), techno overload (Dhir & Midha, 2014), stress overload (Amirkhan, 2012), and technology overload (Karr-Wisniewski & Lu, 2010). Yet people's frustrations with being overloaded illustrate a distinctive communicative concern; one that introduces issues that are highly relevant in a contemporary society that uses a variety of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to be in constant communication (Bayer, Campbell, & Ling, 2016;Burchell, 2015;LaRose et al, 2014;Van Dijck, 2013;Wajcman, 2015).…”

“…Reconceptualizing communication overload needs to consider changes like the proliferation of ICTs and mobile devices that allow people to be accessible anytime and anywhere (Bayer et al, 2016;Licoppe, 2004;Van Dijck, 2013;Wajcman, 2015). Certainly, many people feel empowered by the increased access to new communication technologies (e.g., Bayer et al, 2016;Hargittai, Newman, & Curry, 2012), but there are times that some of the affordances surrounding new media, like accessibility, are perceived negatively. Past research indicates that problems associated with feeling overloaded can have negative consequences (Eppler & Mengis, 2004).…”

Social Smartphone Apps Do Not Capture Attention Despite Their Perceived High Reward Value

“…Contrary to our expectations, high social reward apps did not slow down visual search compared to low or no social reward apps, neither in the smartphone deprived, nor in the control condition. Based on prior work we assumed that different apps would have different levels of reward associated with them (e.g., Bayer et al, 2015;van Koningsbruggen et al, 2017). However, one possible explanation for this null effect is that social apps were not perceived as more rewarding than neutral apps.…”

“…In line with this idea, it is plausible that smartphones distract people from their tasks because they carry social reward to the user and the user is motivated to attain that reward despite disengaging from another task (Oulasvirta, Rattenbury, Ma, & Raita, 2012). According to Bayer, Campbell, and Ling (2015), because people have an innate need for social contact and belonging (Baumeister & Leary, 1995;Deci & Ryan, 2000), they use the predominantly social features of smartphones such as WhatsApp or Facebook. Through repeatedly meeting their social needs on those apps, users form an association between social reward and their smartphones.…”

Límites a la domesticación: usos obligados, reticencia y austeridad en la apropiación de la telefonía móvil

“…En primer lugar, y como han señalado algunos autores (Bayer, Campbell y Ling, 2016), el uso de tecnologías como el teléfono móvil o determinadas aplicaciones no puede considerarse únicamente una elección individual, ya que en la medida en que la socialidad contemporánea depende en gran parte de ellas y alcanzan lo que Ling (2012) denomina "masa crítica", existen fuertes presiones para su adopción. Tanto las relaciones cercanas como también las empresas y servicios gubernamentales, e incluso los empleadores, dan por hecho la disponibilidad y uso de ciertas tecnologías y aplicaciones, lo que se convierte en una presión para su adopción.…”