If you use your cell phone to talk about news of the day or to express opinions about issues, you are more likely to be civically and politically engaged, a new study says.
A new U-M study indicates that individuals who use their cell phone to exchange information about political affairs also tend to be more likely to participate in community and political activities. Comfort with the technology also played an important role, with those being most comfortable and using it for informational purposes being the most engaged.
The findings could have other implications because the study sample occurred after the 2006 elections. Since that time, use of the technology to get and discuss news and politics increased tremendously, especially during the 2008 elections when texting hit an all-time high on the AT&T network.
“The mobile phone is really expanding in terms of its use in ways that appear to foster connection to civic and political life,” says Scott Campbell, an assistant professor of communication studies and study’s lead author. He co-wrote the study with Nojin Kwak, an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies.
Study data came from a national mail survey following the 2006 mid-term Congressional elections. The sample reflected demographic distributions within the U.S. Census Bureau’s divisions of household income, population density, panel member’s age, gender and region.
Respondents reported the frequency in which they participated in a certain activity in the past two months.
Civic engagement involved activities such as working on community project, contributing money to or working on behalf of a social group or cause. Political participation involved attending a political meeting, rally or speech; circulating a petition for a candidate or issue; and contacting a public official.
The study factored 14 items to assess cell phone patterns, including popular activities of calling friends and family, using text/instant messaging and e-mailing.
Women and higher-educated respondents were more civically engaged, and those with greater interest in politics demonstrated greater participation in political events and opportunities, the findings showed.
The rapid evolution of cell phone technology — from a point-to-point interpersonal contact to a multifaceted tool for information access, distribution and management — creates new challenges for those with lower levels of technology fluency. This, the researchers said, can have a detrimental effect on one’s ability to maximize the benefits of the device.
The findings appear in the current issue of Journal of Communication.
