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Abstract
Many states in the U.S. implemented physical distancing policies to limit the spread of COVID-19. These policies disrupted communication for many people. One method to maintain communication, despite physical distancing policies, is computer mediated communication (CMC). However, younger generations tend to adopt technology at a higher rate than older generations, thus age could play a role in whether people use CMC in response to physical distancing policies. Because COVID-19 is unique in temporal context and scope, there is limited research examining the effects of physical distancing and age on communication. To understand how communication practices changed in response to physical distancing policies and whether these practices differed by age, we interviewed 20 participants. Findings suggested most participants increased CMC in response to physical distancing policies, although older participants were less likely to do so. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. Although this reference is from 2020, it refers to the creation of an online dashboard that is continuously updated.
2. Notably, the term social distancing remains popular in everyday discourse in the United States, but we follow several scholars (i.e., Abel & McQueen, Citation2020; Kaur, Citation2020) as well as the World Health Organization by using the term physical distancing (World Health Organization, Citation2021). The term social distancing incorrectly suggests complete disconnection.