Smartphone use by young adults. Collaborative practices of (dis-/re-)engagement in face-to-face interaction
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Linnanmaa, L10
Topic of the dissertation
Smartphone use by young adults. Collaborative practices of (dis-/re-)engagement in face-to-face interaction
Doctoral candidate
Master of Arts Iuliia Avgustis
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Human Computer Interaction and Human-Centered Development (INTERACT)
Subject of study
Information Processing Science
Opponent
Associate professor Stuart Reeves, University of Nottingham
Custos
Professor Florence Oloff, University of Oulu
Not a single-user device: Young adults’ practices of smartphone use in face-to-face interactions
This thesis examines how young adults use smartphones in everyday face-to-face interactions. The research shows that while we often think of smartphones as strictly private and personal devices, we do not always treat them as such in our everyday interactions with friends. Drawing on video-recorded data and ethnomethodological conversation analysis, the thesis uncovers intricate layers of complexity inherent in seemingly simple practices and activities involving smartphones.
The research highlights that while uninvited looks at someone's phone might seem like privacy invasions, they often play important roles in managing interactions. Even during activities that appear private, people often position their phones so that others can see them, prioritizing engagement accountability over potential privacy risks. The research also describes different ways in which participants achieve a joint focus of attention on the screen, depending on the nature of the digital content, the local material environment, and the development of other ongoing activities. By analyzing practices of food photography in restaurants, the study discovers how participants display their engagement to others while individually using a smartphone, challenging the perception that smartphone use is inherently disruptive. Finally, the thesis shows that although smartphone use per se is rarely problematized, a smartphone user’s extended disengagement amidst expected engagement can be an issue for co-present others. In such cases, people rely on various practices to bring the smartphone user back into the conversation.
Overall, the thesis demonstrates that when used in co-presence with other participants, smartphones are much more than “single-user devices.” The interdisciplinary nature of this research provides valuable insights for both the study of technology use and the design of smartphones, suggesting that these devices should accommodate the ways people naturally use them in social settings.
The research highlights that while uninvited looks at someone's phone might seem like privacy invasions, they often play important roles in managing interactions. Even during activities that appear private, people often position their phones so that others can see them, prioritizing engagement accountability over potential privacy risks. The research also describes different ways in which participants achieve a joint focus of attention on the screen, depending on the nature of the digital content, the local material environment, and the development of other ongoing activities. By analyzing practices of food photography in restaurants, the study discovers how participants display their engagement to others while individually using a smartphone, challenging the perception that smartphone use is inherently disruptive. Finally, the thesis shows that although smartphone use per se is rarely problematized, a smartphone user’s extended disengagement amidst expected engagement can be an issue for co-present others. In such cases, people rely on various practices to bring the smartphone user back into the conversation.
Overall, the thesis demonstrates that when used in co-presence with other participants, smartphones are much more than “single-user devices.” The interdisciplinary nature of this research provides valuable insights for both the study of technology use and the design of smartphones, suggesting that these devices should accommodate the ways people naturally use them in social settings.
Last updated: 13.8.2024