The mere presence of smartphones around us while we are talking to someone reduces the quality of the conversation , according to new research from Virginia Tech University (USA). Previous studies have shown that social networks are more addictive than alcohol and tobacco, and that 7 out of 10 users consult them through their mobile phones, both facts that would have given rise to the habit of constantly checking the screens in the company of others to the point of deteriorating real communicative experiences.
The team of scientists wanted to find out to what extent the mere presence of a smartphone influenced the satisfaction achieved by a face-to-face interaction. To evaluate it, the research team assigned different more and less informal discussion topics to the groups of participants, and observed the times that they consulted their mobile devices during the conversation. Subsequently, he interviewed each of them about how pleasant it had been for them and the affinity achieved with their interlocutors, concluding that conversations were considered worse when mobile phones were present, regardless of their subject matter and age. , gender, ethnicity and state of mind of the participants. The results also showed that the negative perception of quality increased when the interlocutors were close friends or relatives.
According to the authors, the explanation is that momentary distraction causes us to overlook changes in facial expression and tone , while preventing eye contact, all of which are key to a good conversation. The team will continue to investigate the effects of this disruptive technology on interpersonal communication.
