Identifying the Relationship Between the Use of Mobile Technologies and Time: A Study Based on a Sample of OECD Member Countries

Abstract

There is no consensus in the academic community on whether modern technology positively impacts people’s lives or, on the contrary, whether its use has more negative consequences. Given the universal nature of cell phones, the limitless possibilities of use, and their wide-ranging functionalities, it is reasonable to believe that these devices have been responsible for changing people’s time management. However, different research approaches make it very difficult to confirm or reject hypotheses that consider associations between cell phone use and time use regarding the different activities in a unified way. This fact suggests that there is still a vast scope in research for further exploring and pursuing how technologies, their development, and their uses are able to permeate the everyday working and social life of the population. Based on this, the present paper aims to assess the relationship between the mobile communication device use and time-use change in a sample of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. This analysis used 3 cell phone use indicators and 12 time-bound indicators by using data for the year 2020. The most significant finding was the confirmation of the assumption arising from the application of regression analysis that the frequency of use of cell phones is not significantly related to the changes in the time structure. However, some significant relationships emerged in the models specified for women. This study also discovered that the most apparent difference was observed in unpaid and paid time throughout the day. The paper provides relevant findings which can be beneficial in many aspects. For example, in the business world, they can help manage business activities, improve performance measurement, or improve managerial decisions related to workflow optimization. The findings provide an understanding not only of the population’s well-being but also of the ICT sector state and, ultimately, of all the characteristics of the sustainable development of the countries. In addition, the contribution of this study is also possible in designing more effective decisions by policymakers. In the article, we discuss the study’s results, outline some practical implications, and suggest potential avenues for further research on this issue.