Re-Conceptualizing Solitude in the Digital Era: From “Being Alone” to “Noncommunication”

Abstract

This article revisits the theoretical terrain surrounding solitude to address conceptual, methodological, and practical challenges manifest in the digital era. First, solitude has been approached from a number of different research traditions, resulting in disconnected streams of theory. Furthermore, these streams were developed before the rise of the Internet and mobile media. As a result, solitude is commonly, if not most commonly, conceptualized and measured as a matter of being physically alone. This article re-conceptualizes solitude as “noncommunication” to offer a more contemporary and inclusive perspective, one that uproots it from ideations of physical aloneness and replants it in social aloneness. Whereas previous theory in this area often ignores mediated interaction, we recognize it as a meaningful way for people to connect, with important implications for solitude. Our framework also calls for interrogation of key contextual factors that condition whether and how solitude is experienced in the digital era.

Alone with my phone? Examining beliefs about solitude and technology use in adolescence

“…In this regard, it seems that researchers should go beyond the simple consideration of solitude as a physical separation from others ( Wilson et al, 2014 ) to explicitly assess (and account for) nuances in solitary experiences today, which are due to new technologies. In this regard, Campbell and Ross (2022) recently argued that solitude should be reconceptualized for the digital era to take into account for face-to-face and computer-mediated forms of communication. In this regard, the authors suggest that notion of physical solitude should be replaced by social aloneness , which can be viewed as a continuum (referred to as shades of solitude) that takes into account expectations for computer-mediated communication and aspects of accessibility to others.…”

A lifespan psychological perspective on solitude

“…Another, more gradual historical change process with potential relevance to solitude is the increasing availability of technology-mediated communication (Burnell et al, 2021; Coplan et al, 2021; Kim, 2021; Vincent, 2020). While initial uptake of mobile technology was limited due to high costs, mobile devices are now widely available across the lifespan (Campbell & Ross, 2022; Cotten, 2017; Peres et al, 2010). For solitude research, this raises at least two important questions: First, how do we define solitude considering that people can be physically apart but engage in virtual social interaction?…”

“…For solitude research, this raises at least two important questions: First, how do we define solitude considering that people can be physically apart but engage in virtual social interaction? Some researchers suggest that solitude may be better conceptualized as non-communication (Campbell & Ross, 2022). Coplan and colleagues (Coplan et al, in press) provide key empirical insights on this from a Canadian sample of adolescents by showing that solitude may occur on a continuum from being physically alone without socially interacting, to texting another person, to virtually engaging via voice and video.…”

“…Consequently, the study of the contextual and developmental contours that influence whether and how solitude promotes or hinders well-being across the lifespan is an important enterprise. This may be particularly true in today’s world given the high number of households with only one resident, smaller core networks, technology increasing time spent at home, and communication technology changing how solitude may be defined (Campbell & Ross, 2022; Cohen, 2021; Hampton et al, 2011; Vilhelmson et al, 2017). Building on the idea that solitude need not be negative (Coplan, Hipson et al, 2019; Lay et al, 2019), this special issue features research on solitude defined by physical aloneness or an absence of social interaction (Coplan et al, in press; Nikitin & Ristl, in press; Tsang et al, in press; White et al, in press), as well as volitional activities by oneself (positive solitude; Bachman et al, in press).…”

Definitions of Solitude in Everyday Life

“…Coplan et al, 2019;Weinstein et al, in press). The distinction between social time and solitary time becomes even more unclear as we grapple with the role that technological advances play, making parasocial interactions easily available even when people are physically alone (S. W. Campbell & Ross, 2022). The increasing accessibility of remote communications and the pervasiveness of social media makes it all the more difficult to define solitude.…”