Using smartphone in conversation between university students: Interaction analysis at a university cafeteria

Translated Abstract

This study investigates how small talk unfolds between two university students in a cafeteria, with a focus on the interactional role of smartphones. The data from 2016 reveal that the students spend most of their time in the cafeteria engaging with their smartphones, keeping them within reach and visible even when not actively using them. The analysis shows that smartphone use is as frequent as drinking beverages, indicating its seamless integration into their daily routines. It further highlights that scrolling gestures often preceded the closing of conversations. Despite frequent smartphone engagement, the students continue their conversations without interruption, demonstrating their ability to balance social interaction with device use. While such conversational practices may appear to lack traditional interactional rituals, they represent an adaptive technique employed by contemporary university students to navigate co-presence and multitasking in social settings.

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