More Mobile Connectedness, Less Well-Being?

Abstract

Abstract: The rise of mobile technology and social media has created a fragmented and interconnected social media landscape. Drawing from the concept of polymedia and media repertoire, this study paints social media as an integrated environment and introduces the concept of multiplatform mobile connectedness (MMC) as a representation of an individual’s curative social media repertoire, shaped by meanings attributed to each mobile media platform. By examining its relationship with negative well-being, this study contributes to the debate on the displacement or reinforcement hypothesis of mobile media in an integrated environment. Focusing on emerging adulthoods in China, this study reveals that MMC is associated with higher negative well-being through fear of missing out (FoMO) and leisure boredom. This finding offers a new perspective from MMC on the impact of mobile media on well-being.