Untangling the technology cluster: Mobile telephony, internet use and the location of social ties
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2008
Abstract
Among the communication technologies introduced in the developing world during the past century, none has grown more rapidly than mobile telephony.Yet the impact of mobile phone use on social relationships has received limited systematic study. This article examines the factors associated with mobile phone usage in the south Indian state of Kerala and the social structural consequences of such usage, particularly the composition and location of the social ties maintained through mobile technologies. Bivariate analysis of mobile phone usage and network composition shows that frequent users have fewer local ties and more external ties than non-frequent users. However, these effects are due largely to the association of email and mobile phone use. The article shows that internet use increases, while mobile phone use decreases the geographical diversity of social ties. The implication is that mobile telephony and internet technologies may have different consequences for the globalization process. Copyright © 2008 SAGE Publications.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
New Media and Society
First Page
729
Last Page
749
Recommended Citation
Sooryamoorthy, R., Miller, B., & Shrum, W. (2008). Untangling the technology cluster: Mobile telephony, internet use and the location of social ties. New Media and Society, 10 (5), 729-749. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444808094354