The Intersection of Cell Phone Use and Leisure

Abstract

Today's college students are among the first cohort of young people raised entirely in the digital era and are rapid adopters of cell phone technology. An emerging line of research, from the broader social science and technology literature, is investigating the influence of cell phone use on college students' behavior. This research suggests that cell phone use may influence leisure as well. This paper reviews the emerging research, draws connections to leisure studies, and offers suggestions for future scholarship. It is argued that this broad topic would benefit from the unique perspective leisure scholars can provide. As cell phones become “smarter” and more deeply embedded in our lives, it is important to understand their influence on all aspects of human behavior, including leisure.

Keywords:

• cellular phone
• mobile phone
• technology
• social impacts
• behavior