Mobile Phone Use Enhances Social Connectedness

Abstract

This article focuses on the relationship between everyday mobile messaging and social connectedness. It highlights studies in which people use mobile messaging as a means of cultivating and maintaining social connectedness. The article delves into the relevance of social connectedness through mobile messaging on a personal, group, and macro level. Included is a review of research studies and their methodologies on how mobile messaging, like texting, has been repurposed within organizations for a variety of service objectives, including mobile learning. The concept of social connectedness, as fostered by mobile phone messaging, is important in people's lives as it reflects their continuous and affective interactions and experiences with a single friend, family member, or a group. The cultivation of social connectedness can be used as an agent for socio-emotional goals that can feed healthy outlooks for various constituents of all ages. The potential constructive impact of social connectedness for people in mobile messaging communities vary from feelings of belonging and perceived usefulness to academic success.