O impacto do telemóvel na sociedade contemporânea: panorama de investigação em ciências sociais

As a consequence of the widespread and frequent mobile phone use in contemporary society and of the social changes associated to this technology, the mobile phone’s appropriation has become a relevant object of scientific investigation. This paper offers an updated literature review about this subject. In spite of being a recent field in the social sciences, the investigation is broad, international and constantly developing. It focuses eight themes: (i) practices of use and explanations for variations; (ii) social connectivity; (iii) coordination; (iv) softening of boundaries and negotiation of social rules; (v) symbolic dimension; (vi) senses stimulation and personalization; (vii) emotion; and (viii) dependence.