Should I Text or Should I Call?: How College Students Navigate Mediated Connections with Family

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated how college students’ pace of life and perceptions of communication technologies shape the choices they make when engaging in mediated communication with their parents.

Methodology

We conducted 21 interviews to explore how students’ understandings of various communication technologies, the rules and patterns of technology use in their families, and the circumstances surrounding their use of technologies while at college influence the number and type of media they use to communicate with their parents.

Findings

We found that perceived busyness and generational differences played a large role in limiting technologies used, with environmental factors, the purpose of communication, and complexity of message also contributing to technology choices.

Originality

This study extends media multiplexity theory by investigating media choice and relational tie strength in an intergenerational context.

Citation

Platt, C.A., Bourdeaux, R. and DiTunnariello, N. (2014), "Should I Text or Should I Call?: How College Students Navigate Mediated Connections with Family", Communication and Information Technologies Annual (Studies in Media and Communications, Vol. 8), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 75-101. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2050-206020140000008019