Regulating the Multiple Identities of “Always-On” Connectivity (2011)

Undergraduate: Wyatt Yelverton

Faculty Advisor: Rudolf Colloredo-Mansfeld
Department: Anthropology

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Every day, cellular technology seems to have a lot more to do with what we do. We call organize meetings, check our bank balances, check up on the latest gossip, and so much more. Users are moving towards a condition of being “always-on.” More than just using cell phones, “always-on” implies a state of permanent connectedness where physically and virtually a user never ceases to communicate with others. My project explores how “always-on” is regulated by both users’ expectations about incoming communications and the use of face-to-face interactions to limit remote availability. The study incorporates current published ethnography or cell usage and a review of technology, as well as first-hand observations. Using data on communication practices across the developed world, the paper examines possible implications for developing countries. Looking forward, social networking technologies will require management of the multiple identities of an individual across both the physical and virtual worlds. “Always-on,” in turn, suggests an expansion of trade opportunities and consumer market interaction.