From Frontier to Field: Old and New Theoretical Directions in Mobile Communication Studies

Mobile Communication Studies (MCS) has rapidly grown into a well-recognized field. Many scholars celebrate this growth; however, some are concerned it is outpacing theoretical coherence. In light of these concerns, this study offers a thematic analysis of propositions and assumptions that give shape to two of the field’s primary branches: implications of mobile media and communication for connecting with (a) other people, and (b) public settings. Initially, the dominant perspective throughout was that texting and calling take away from the user’s capacity to connect in other social contexts. With the “smartphone turn,” both branches experienced dramatic and coherent theoretical pivots, away from zero-sum perspectives toward framing mobile communication as an added layer of social connection—with both people and places.