M.

Yaksich 1

It Literally Connects Us: A Qualitative Survey of the ays Colle!e Stu"ents #$%erience Social Connection &ith the i'o"

Michael (. Yaksich )e%art*ent of Sociolo!y University of Marylan" Colle!e 'ark+ M)

M.Yaksich ,

A-stract
.oun"aries -et&een the %u-lic an" %rivate s%here have -eco*e %articularly "ifficult to locate "ue to the influence of %ersonal technolo!ies /Meyro&it0+ 11234 5ei*er+ 11134 6ho*son+ 11117. S%ecifically+ %orta-le *e"ia %layers /'M's7 like the A%%le i'o" allo& users to e$%erience a variety of *usic an" *e"ia in innu*era-le settin!s. hile scholars have often "escri-e" the effects of 'M' usa!e as isolationary /8en"erson+ 6aylor+ an" 6ho*son+ ,99,4 :i*+ ,99;7 fe& have note" that these "evices connect users /.ull+ ,999<,9934 8a*%ton+ ,99=7. 6his %a%er ar!ues that the ways %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" are use" an" the i*%act usa!e has on every"ay interactions allo& in"ivi"uals to "evelo% social connections. 6o uncover the nature of that connection+ in>"e%th intervie&s an" %artici%ant o-servations &ere con"ucte" &ith colle!e stu"ents &ho re!ularly use the i'o". Analysis of the inter%retations an" *eanin!s users !ive to their interactions &ith the "evice "e*onstrates that users can re*ain socially connecte" throu!h file sharin!+ collective usa!e+ an" !rou% i"entification in the for* of tren"s. ?in"in!s shoul" not su!!est that %ersonal technolo!ies "o not %rivati0e %u-ic life+ -ut that for*s of social connection also e*er!e fro* their usa!e.

It Literally Connects Us: A Qualitative Survey of the Ways College Students Ex erience

M.Yaksich ; Social Connection with the i!od Intro"uction @arious scholars have ar!ue" that interactions -et&een %eo%le an" technolo!y trou-le the -oun"aries -et&een the %u-lic an" %rivate s%here -y allo&in! in"ivi"uals to %rivati0e their every"ay %u-lic e$%eriences /8a-er*as 11214 6ho*%son 11194 5ei*er+ 11134 Sennett+ ,99,7. Mo-ile technolo!ies are the latest in a lon! line of technolo!ies that "isru%t our un"erstan"in! of the relationshi% -et&een the %u-lic an" %rivate s%here1. S%ecifically+ %orta-le *e"ia %layers /'M's7 like the A%%le i'o", allo& users to e$%erience a variety of *usic an" *e"ia in innu*era-le settin!s;. hile scholars have

"escri-e" the effects of %ersonal technolo!ies as isolationary /8osoka&a+ 112=4 Chen+ 11124 8en"erson+ 6aylor+ an" 6ho*son+ ,99,4 :i*+ ,99;7 fe& have ar!ue" that %ersonal technolo!ies connect users /.ull+ ,9994 8a*%ton+ ,99=7. Un"erstan"in! ho& the i'o" is use" on a "aily -asis is essential to uncoverin! the inter%retations an" *eanin!s that users !ive to their interactions &ith %orta-le *e"ia "evices. hat a-out the use of %ersonal

technolo!ies like the i'o" ena-les %eo%le to stay socially connecte"A In this %a%er I ar!ue that the ways %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" are use" an" the i*%act usa!e has on every"ay interactions allo& in"ivi"uals to "evelo% social connections.= Bne of the si!nificant i*%acts of the i'o" is that the technolo!y see*s to -lur the %u-lic<%rivate "ichoto*y. ?irst intro"uce" -y (ur!en 8a-er*as /11217 the %u-lic s%here
?or e$a*%le+ television /Meyro&it0+ 11234 Moyall+ 112C7 vi"eo /6ho*son+ 111174 *o-ile %hones /8en"erson+ 6aylor+ an" 6ho*son+ ,99,74 an" the Internet /Chen+ ,99;7 , Launche" in ,991+ the i!od is a -ran" of %orta-le *e"ia %layers "esi!ne" an" *arkete" -y A%%le Co*%uter. )evices in the i'o" fa*ily %rovi"e a si*%le user interface "esi!ne" aroun" a central scroll &heel. 6he stan"ar" i'o" *o"el stores *e"ia on a -uilt>in har" "rive+ &hile the s*aller i'o" shuffle an" i'o" Dano use flash *e*ory. Like *ost "i!ital au"io %layers+ an i'o" can serve as an e$ternal "ata stora!e "evice &hen connecte" to a co*%uter. ; 6his article focuses on the i'o" rather than other %orta-le *e"ia %layers /'M'7 in %articular. Currently the i'o" re*ains the *ost %o%ular %ersonal *e"ia "evice+ controllin! E;F of the %ersonal *e"ia %layer *arket in the Unite" States. = Also "efine" later+ social connectedness or social connection refers to the a-ility or i"entification an in"ivi"ual has &ith others in their co**unity throu!h o&nershi%+ %artici%ation in activities+ or co**on cultural interests.
1

M.Yaksich = "enotes s%ecific institutions+ a!encies+ an" %ractices4 ho&ever+ it is also a !eneral social hori0on of e$%erience in &hich everythin! that is actually or see*in!ly relevant for all *e*-ers of society is inte!rate" /De!t an" :lu!e+ 111;: %!s. 1>,7. 6hus+ the %u-lic s%here enco*%asses a variety of social sites or arenas &here *eanin!s are articulate"+ "istri-ute"+ an" ne!otiate" -y a collective -o"y &ith co**on interests. In contrast+ %rivate s%heres are s%aces that are consi"ere" %ersonal or in"ivi"ual involvin! issues of *oral an" reli!ious conscience /.enha-i-+ 111,: %.1927. It is often conce%tuali0e" si*%ly as the o%%osite of the %u-lic. .y trou-lin! -oun"aries -et&een the %u-lic an" %rivate s%here+ %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" allo& users to access an" e$%erience *usic+ vi"eos+ an" infor*ation &hile %hysically re*ainin! in the %u-lic s%here. 6hus+ i'o"s allo& users to *ove a&ay fro* *ainly %u-lic to %re"o*inantly %rivate *o"es of vie&in! an" listenin! /"u Gay+ 8all+ (anes+ Mackay an" De!us+ 111E: %.11=7. Unlike %ersonal stereo syste*s+ 'M's like the i'o" resha%e %u-lic an" %rivate -oun"aries -y allo&in! users to &atch %o%ular television %ro!ra*s an" listen to *usic &hile en!a!in! in a &i"e array of activities. #ither "urin! an afternoon Ho! or on the &ay to a -usiness *eetin! users can have their entire *e"ia li-rary &ith the* at all ti*es. Du*erous accessories also allo& the i'o" to Ifit your lifeJ throu!h various covers+ ar*-an"s+ %orta-le s%eaker "evices+ an" &ireless car ra"io connectors. hile this for* of

*o-ile %ersonali0ation allo&s for s%aces of culture to -e re"ra&n into lar!ely %rivate an" *o-ile /.ull+ ,993a: %.19E7 areas it also allo&s for the %ossi-ility of social connections to e*er!e -et&een in"ivi"uals throu!h o&nershi%+ %artici%ation in activities+ or co**on cultural interests. 6he %ur%ose of this stu"y is to %rovi"e e*%irical evi"ence of the &ays the i'o" is use" an" the i*%act usa!e has on social interactions. ?in"in!s fro* the i'o" usa!e of

M.Yaksich 3 colle!e stu"ents &ill -e e$a*ine" in an effort to e$ten" "e-ates an" "iscussions surroun"in! the effects of 'M's as &ell as she" li!ht on ho& social connections are *a"e &ith %ersonal technolo!ies. hile the ever>chan!in! nature of social relations *akes this

task co*%licate"+ uncoverin! *eanin!s -et&een i'o"s an" in"ivi"uals as they are ha%%enin! &ill -rin! us closer to un"erstan"in! ho& technolo!y structures every"ay social life.

5elevant Literature Scholars have -een increasin!ly critical of the i*%act of %ersonal technolo!ies in sha%in! social interaction in every"ay life. 5ather than seekin! to "efine the nature of %rivate an" %u-lic "o*ains scholars increasin!ly %oint to a reali!n*ent of the %u-lic<%rivate "ivi"e resultin! fro* the use of technolo!y /?ahey+ 11137. In %articular+ stu"ies on the use of %ersonal technolo!ies e*%hasi0e the trou-lin! of "ivisions -et&een the %rivate an" %u-lic s%here /Meyro&it0+ 11234 Moyall+ 112C4 6ho*son+ 11117. ?or e$a*%le+ 5ei*er /11137 ar!ues in his e*%irical &ork on infor*ation an" co**unication technolo!ies /IC6s7+ like la%to%s+ that these technolo!ies ena-le users to *ove -et&een %u-lic an" %rivate s%here. ?leisher*an /,99C7 notes that %ersonal technolo!ies can -e vie&e" as a -oun"ary o-Hects that resha%e every"ay relationshi%s an" interactions. 6hus throu!h i'o" usa!e in"ivi"uals !ain control over their %u-lic an" %rivate e$%eriences. Many scholars focusin! u%on the effects of %ersonal technolo!ies ar!ue that their use is a %rivate act that results in social isolationis* /Chen+ 11124 :i*+ ,99;4 Yoon ,99C7. )ra&in! u%on entries fro* the Hournals of =9 colle!e stu"ents+ Chen /11127 ar!ues that alk*an listenin! is a refle$ive act that increases social se!re!ation an"

"ecreases social interaction throu!h kinesthetic an" sensual e$%eriences+ &hich he ter*s

M.Yaksich C Ielectronic narcissis*.J :i* /,99;7 ar!ues that the Internet an" other for*s of technolo!y+ like the i'o"+ ena-le %rivate e$%eriences that can -e un"erstoo" as a search for a %rivate s%here in a %u-lic &orl" &here users fin" it "ifficult to for!e *eanin!ful connections re%resentin! a "ecline in I%u-licnessJ an" increase in isolation. In a Kualitative stu"y of *o-ile %hone use -y colle!e stu"ents+ 8en"erson+ 6aylor+ an" 6ho*son /,99,7 ar!ue that cellular %hones are an in"ivi"uali0in! an" isolatin! for* of technolo!y that %laces youn! %eo%le in the centre of social net&orks. 6hese stu"ies have %ri*arily focuse" u%on the isolatin! effects of technolo!y usa!e on conce%tuali0ation of the every"ay e$%eriences of users. In contrast+ scholars ar!ue that interactions &ith %ersonal technolo!ies allo& for social connections that *ay counteract or contra"ict any socially isolatin! feature of those technolo!ies /:at0 L Akahus+ ,99,7. 'erl*an /,99=7 ar!ues that consu*ers of au"io eKui%*ent an" %orta-le *e"ia %layers construct their o&n universe of *eanin! aroun" their eKui%*ent throu!h %ersonal e$%erience. 6hrou!h the use of technolo!y this !rou% is connecte" to co**on un"erstan"in! of *usic as a locus of su-Hectivity an" e*otion. Si*ilarly+ research re!ar"in! fa"s or tren"s in fashion+ hairstyles+ or other cultural for*s /.er!er+ ,9994 Su0uki L .est+ ,99;7 su!!est that the i'o" an" other 'M's *ay allo& for social connections throu!h !rou% i"entification. 6he i'o"Js cult>like follo&in! of users creates various &ays to custo*i0e the "evice &ith covers an" cases+ create ho*e*a"e a"vertise*ents+ an" even take %ictures &ith the i'o" /:ahney+ ,9937. 6hus+ the i'o" as a cultural icon an" tren" is not only i"entifie" -y the &hite ear-u"s3 -ut also -y the social connections *a"e throu!h o&nershi%. 6hrou!h an analysis of 'M' users+ Sociolo!ist Michael .ull /,993-7 sho&s that use of i'o" technolo!y allo&s users to construct *eanin!ful an" %leasura-le narratives
3

#ar-u"s are a synony* for hea"%hones.

M.Yaksich E out of the routine linear an" cyclical %ractices of their every"ay *ove*ent /.ull+ ,993-: %.;=C7. Meanin! is create" throu!h the &ays %eo%le use the i'o"+ allo&in! the user MtoN stru!!le to achieve a level of autono*y over ti*e an" %lace throu!h the creation of a %rivati0e" au"itory -u--le /.ull+ ,993-: %.;==7. 8o&ever+ as in the case of tren"s+ in"ivi"uals "o not necessarily have to interact &hile listenin! to their i'o" to for* social connections. .ull notes that throu!h %o">castsC+ usin! the i'o" to %rovi"e entertain*ent at social occasions+ or even connectin! it to a car ra"io users can also share an" e$%erience *usic an" *e"ia in !rou%s. hile this hi!hli!hts i'o" usa!e in collective

situations+ .ull "oes not fully "evelo% an ar!u*ent aroun" the i'o"Js a-ility to for* social connections throu!h its au"itory an" non>au"itory functions. .y "o&nloa"in! *usic an" *e"ia+ sharin! infor*ation an" "ocu*ents+ an" soon utili0in! the i'o" as a %honeE+ %orta-le *e"ia technolo!ies allo& for various ty%es of social connection -et&een users. )iscussions surroun"in! the use of *o-ile technolo!ies ulti*ately *ust take into account various functions an" effects in or"er to infor* us a-out ho& users atte*%t to inha-it the s%aces in &hich they *ove /.ull+ ,993-: %.;=37. 5esearch of usa!e an" interactions &ith technolo!y in the for*ation of online classroo*s an" co**unities also hi!hli!hts ho& social connections are "evelo%e" /Graves+ L. D. 111,4 'reece+ (. ,9994 Glo!off+ S. ,9914 5iviere an" Lico%%e+ ,99;7. In their Kualitative stu"y of IC6 users+ Lico%%e an" S*ore"a /,9937 ar!ue that the tra"itional co**unication *o"el+ &here teleco**unication is use" to connect %eo%le &ho are %hysically se%arate" fro* each other+ is !ra"ually -ein! su%%lante" &ith a ne& %attern of Iconnecte" %resenceJ &here s*all !estures or si!ns of attention are at least as

A "i!ital recor"in! of a ra"io -roa"cast+ *usic+ vi"eo+ or si*ilar %ro!ra*+ *a"e availa-le on the Internet for "o&nloa"in! to a %ersonal au"io %layer. E Unveilin! of the i'hone fro*: Martell+ )unca*. A%%le intro"uces svelte *ulti*e"ia i'hone. 5euters. (anuary 1+ ,99E. 6he "evice &ill -e release" in *i" ,99E.
C

M.Yaksich 2 i*%ortant as the *essa!e content itself. 8a*%ton /,99=7 %resents e*%irical evi"ence to analy0e the use of co*%uter>*e"iate" co**unication in every"ay life as a for* of social contact+ hi!hli!htin! the use of e>*ail+ *o-ile tele%hones+ *e"ia %layers+ an" Internet !rou%s. S%ecifically+ he ar!ues that various technolo!ies an" the Internet enhance the for*ation of lar!er an" *ore "iverse social net&orks+ co**unity or!ani0in!+ an" %u-lic %artici%ation rather than re%lacin! e$istin! %u-lic s%aces /8a*%ton+ ,99=7. Althou!h *any authors fro* -oth si"es of the "e-ate "ra& u%on the e$%eriences an" &or"s of users+ the inte!ration of "ata into their ar!u*ents at ti*es left %artici%ants "etache" fro* their social conte$t. ChenJs /,99;7 uses %ersonal Hournals to collect infor*ation in a natural an" unstructure" fashion /Chen+ 1112: %. ,C97+ yet fails to take into account the characteristics or feelin!s of his %artici%ants that coul" co*e fro* face> to>face intervie&s. A""itionally+ &hile .ullJs /,993-7 use of o-servations %rovi"es for an effective an" "etaile" %ortrayal of his %artici%ants+ his inte!ration of Kuotations &ithin the te$t re*ains oversha"o&e" -y theory. )etaile" "escri%tions of i'o" users+ an" the *eanin!s they %rovi"e+ &ill %rovi"e for stron!er an" *ore "etaile" results &ithout "etractin! fro* the overall theoretical ar!u*ent. As Science an" 6echnolo!y Stu"ies /S6S7 scholars Delly Bu"shoorn an" 6revor 'inch /,99;+ i$7 note+ Users are every&here !ainin! %ro*inence. 6echnolo!ies like the i'o" "o not have intrinsic *eanin!s or %ur%oses that !ui"e their use. Instea"+ social actors articulate their *eanin!s an" uses &ithin %articular situations /Clarke an" ?uHi*ura 111,: %.,E7. 6akin! a sy*-olic interactionist a%%roach+ this stu"y situates the i'o" in its social conte$ts an" %ractices. S%ecifically+ I ar!ue that the &ays %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" are use" an" the i*%act usa!e has on every"ay interactions allo& in"ivi"uals to "evelo% social connections. Use of the i'o" an" the i*%act of usa!e

M.Yaksich 1 shoul" not -e seen as the a%%lication of technolo!y+ -ut as a %ro"uct of social interaction.

Metho"olo!y 6he !oal of this stu"y is to un"erstan" ho& i'o" is use" on a "aily -asis+ -y uncoverin! the inter%retations an" *eanin!s that users !ive to their interactions &ith %orta-le *e"ia "evices+ an" there-y e$%ose its a-ility to increase social connections. 6o o-tain e*%irical "ata+ ten in>"e%th intervie&s &ere con"ucte" &ith colle!e stu"ents &ho re!ularly use" an i'o". 'artici%ants for this stu"y &ere o-taine" throu!h sno&-all sa*%lin! an" &ere assi!ne" %seu"ony*s in or"er to *aintain confi"entiality. 6he %ur%ose of in>"e%th intervie&s &as to ca%ture the reactions+ feelin!s+ o%inions+ an" *eanin!s that users attach to their interactions &ith i'o"s. Intervie&s &ere recor"e" an" con"ucte" in cafOs+ stu"ent offices+ an" "or* roo*s. 6hey laste" -et&een si$ty an" ei!hty *inutes an" &ere transcri-e" ver-ati*. Questions aske" inclu"e": Coul" you "escri-e ho& you use your i'o" fro* start to finish on an avera!e "ayA 8o& "o you feel &hen youJre usin! your i'o"A If you ha" to co*e u% &ith one &or" to "escri-e the i'o"+ &hat &oul" it -e an" &hyA hat "o you think the i'o" "oes to %eo%le &hen they use itA

A""itionally+ "e*o!ra%hic characteristics of those intervie&e" are "is%laye" in 6a-le 1 of the A%%en"i$. All %artici%ants o&ne" the i'o" Dano *o"el. In a""ition to con"uctin! intervie&s+ %artici%ant o-servations &ere con"ucte" &ith three colle!e stu"ents &ho o&ne" the i'o". B-servations &ere con"ucte" in or"er to !ather "ata on actual i'o" usa!e inclu"in! the feelin!s associate" &ith each e$%erience. ?or each o-servation stu"ents &ere follo&e" aroun" ca*%us for any&here -et&een one to t&o hours. Interactions -et&een i'o"s an" users &ere recor"e" in "etaile" fiel" notes after each session. 6hese &ere analytic fiel" notes /.ur!ess+ 112,7 consistin! not only of

M.Yaksich 19 "etaile" accounts or thick "escri%tion /Geert0+ 11E;7 of everythin! that I "i" an" o-serve" "urin! *y ti*e &ith stu"ents -ut also of on!oin! analysis of the *eanin! of+ an" Kuestions raise" -y+ these o-servations. I utili0e" the e$ten"e" case *etho" a%%roach /.ura&oy+ 11127+ in &hich initial hy%otheses are revise" as intervie&s an" fiel" o-servations refute or *o"ify the*. #ach intervie& an" successive entrance into the fiel"+ therefore+ &as an o%%ortunity to test i"eas for*ulate" "urin! the analysis. After intervie&s an" o-servations &ere con"ucte"+ each &as analy0e" in or"er to for*ulate cate!ories that "escri-e for*s of e$%erience an" *eanin! that ste* fro* interactions -et&een the i'o" an" users. 6he incor%oration of a Irefle$ive un"erstan"in!J uncovere" co**on %atterns a*on! a "iverse ran!e of cases /.ura&oy+ 1112: %.37. 6o "o this I co*%are" evi"ence fro* intervie&s an" o-servations in or"er to for*ulate cate!ories that "e*onstrate the %resence social connections. ?ollo&in! this+ confir*in! an" "isconfir*in! evi"ence &as %lace" &ithin "ata *atri$es for or!ani0ational %ur%oses. #vi"ence &as or!ani0e" un"er three *ain the*es P IConnection throu!h ?ile Sharin!J+ IConnection throu!h 6ren"sJ+ an" IConnection throu!h Collective Usa!eJ. Given the li*ite" sco%e of this stu"y+ a""itional intervie&s &ith infor*ation an" co**unication technolo!ies /IC67 or 'M' users &oul" allo& for a *ore ro-ust "iscussion of ho& other %ersonal technolo!ies ena-le social connections. ?or e$a*%le+ the recent fusion -et&een 'M's or ca*eras &ith *o-ile %hones *ay she" li!ht u%on the &i"er array of *eanin!s that users construct aroun" the social connections that are *a"e &ith %ersonal technolo!ies. 6his *ay inclu"e *eanin!s associate" &ith te$t *essa!in!+ e*ails+ an" even %hoto!ra%hs taken &ith %orta-le *e"ia %layers or IC6s. In a""ition it is also i*%ortant to note that as a t&enty>four year ol" Caucasian *ale &ho uses an i'o"+ I -rin! s%ecific -iases an" e$%erience to this stu"y. hile this %resents so*e li*itations+ it

M.Yaksich 11 allo&s for a""itional insi!ht into the s%ecifics of i'o" usa!e. .efore "iscussin! the fin"in!s of this %a%er+ a -rief "escri%tion of the i'o"s a%%earance an" -asic functions in every"ay usa!e &ill conte$tuali0e the e$%eriences of colle!e stu"ents.

#very"ay Usa!e: i'o"s in Action Scrollin! thou!h a re" i'o"+ San"y ilsonJs -lue eyes a%%eare" entrance" -y the

-ri!ht rectan!ular screen an" scrollin! functions of the "evice as she *a"e her &ay to a noon class. As she Kuickly *ove" her thu*- aroun" the flat circular scroll a &i"e array of *usic+ *e"ia+ an" !a*es -eca*e instantaneously availa-le. Like *any i'o" users+ San"y+ a &hite t&enty>four year>ol" health sciences *aHor+ &as !ettin! rea"y for an avera!e "ay &ith her i'o". ith her -lack Coach han"-a! at her si"e+ San"y e$%lore" the

*any functions an" features of the i'o" &ith ease. 6he i'o" "esi!n is re*iniscent of 6@ re*ote controls+ e$ce%t that it has a s*all screen an" only four o%tions that circle its scroll. Bn the to%+ -otto*+ left+ an" ri!ht si"e of the scroll &ere *arkin!s that in"icate" functions such as %lay<%ause+ for&ar"+ -ack+ an" *enu. Most users+ inclu"in! San"y+ viciously *ove their thu*-s aroun" to search throu!h *usic an" *enus+ &hile %ressin! "o&n near one of the four *arke" areas to utili0e %articular functions. Accor"in! to San"y+ this thin! Hu*% starts *y "ay. Bn the o%%osite en" of ca*%us+ Mark 5osen-ur! &as sittin! outsi"e at a lar!e -lack *etal ta-le &ith a co%y of )anteJs IInfernoJ an" his &hite i'o" Dano. #very fe& *o*ents Mark+ a t&enty year>ol" co*%uter science *aHor+ foun" hi*self constantly touchin! it+ chan!in! the *usic+ or turnin! certain son!s u% or "o&n /Mark7. 5ea"in! a co%y of the ashin!ton 'ost on the o%%osite en" of the ta-le+ I notice" that in so*e

M.Yaksich 1, instances Mark -eca*e frustrate" &hen he coul" not fin" a son! or &hen the -ook he &as rea"in! -eca*e I-orin!J. I hate this -ook. I nee" the *usic to !et *e throu!h it he sai". 6he i'o"+ in its o&n hi""en &ay+ allo&e" -oth of us to rea" &hile listenin! to our favorite son!s. After Kuickly turnin! the %a!e+ he fi""le" &ith his i'o" an" &ent -ack to rea"in!. Mark re*aine" focuse" on his rea"in! for the re*ain"er of the ti*e he s%ent outsi"e -efore he %acke" u% his thin!s+ %ut his i'o" in his %ocket+ an" *a"e his &ay to a t&o oJclock class+ the thin &hite ear%hone -u"s that &ere linke" to the i'o" -y a lon! cor" never leavin! his ears.

5esults "he i!od as #social while still $eing in %y own little world 6he %rivati0e" nature of the i'o" ena-les in"ivi"ual users to access an" enHoy a &i"e array of *usic+ *e"ia+ an" infor*ation in -oth %rivate an" %u-lic settin!s. Sean Sharara+ a *i""le class t&enty>three year>ol" of Ara- "ecent+ "escri-e" his e$%erience of re*ainin! connecte" &hile usin! the i'o". hen I a* usin! *y i'o" I can choose to -e social &ith it or not -e social &ith it. I can &alk aroun" ca*%us an" talk to %eo%le an" enHoy *y *usic. .ut I "o think that %ersonal relationshi%s an" ties are "ifferent no&+ es%ecially &ith %hones an" *usic %layers+ -ut I also think that this "e%en"s on ho& you use it. 6here is choice. I !uess &hen I use the i'o" it is like -ein! social &hile still -ein! in *y o&n little &orl".2 After a fe& *o*ents the %olitical science *aHor in Sean ca*e out as &e -e!an to lau!h a-out ho& the &orl" or !overn*ent accor"in! to the i'o" &oul" -e full of %eo%le &ho &oul" -e a-le to control their %laylist1 &ith li!htnin! refle$es+ -ut &ho coul" at any
6o hel% %ro"uce clarity Kuotes have un"er!one so*e *inor e"itin!. In a fe& instances sentences have -een reor"ere" an" false starts+ Iu*sJ+ an" so*e %auses have -een eli*inate". 1 !laylist refers to a listin! of son!s or vi"eo create" to or!ani0e *usic on %orta-le *e"ia %layers.
2

M.Yaksich 1; *o*ent choose to -e aroun" %eo%le or &ith %eo%le. 6he %o&er that Sean %laces in the han"s of i'o" users to -e I&ith %eo%leJ or Iaroun" %eo%leJ not only "enotes a level of social connection+ -ut ho& technolo!y allo&s for the control of *ove*ent -et&een the %u-lic an" %rivate s%here. 6he follo&in! results "e*onstrate several &ays the i'o" allo&s in"ivi"uals to re*ain socially connecte". #vi"ence %rovi"es a sna%shot of a %articular historical *o*ent of i'o" usa!e to facilitate the ar!u*ent in this %a%er. S%ecifically+ results sho& that connections &ere *a"e in three "ifferent &ays inclu"in!: /a7 ?ile Sharin! Pthe electronic sharin! of *usic+ *e"ia+ an" infor*ation -et&een i'o" users. 6his for* of social connection links users throu!h e$chan!e4 /-7 6ren"s Pthe i'o" as a %o%ular social *ove*ent that connects in"ivi"uals throu!h o&nershi%4 an" /c7 Collective Usa!e P the a-ility to utili0e the i'o" in social situations &here in"ivi"uals can e$%erience *usic an" *e"ia to!ether. 5esults shoul" not su!!est that all users &ill use or e$%erience the i'o" in the sa*e &ays+ -ut rather %rovi"es evi"ence of ho& %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" ena-le social connections.

#Sharing art of %e: Social Connection through &ile Sharing )ee%a Sankar+ a t&enty>si$ year>ol" !ra"uate stu"ent an" avi" i'o" user+ sat rela$e" in her chair scrollin! throu!h her &hite i'o" Dano &hile "rinkin! a cu% of coffee at the stu"ent center. 6hrou!h her -lack fra*e !lasses+ her "ark -ro&n eyes re*aine" fi$e" u%on its s*all color screen as she searche" for &hat she later calle" *y Ha*s. )ee%a+ like *any stu"ents on ca*%us+ is an i'o" user &ho not only enHoys listenin! to *usic -ut also sharin! it &ith her frien"s. Al*ost every"ay I use *y i'o" I en" u% sho&in! or sharin! *usic or %ictures

M.Yaksich 1= &ith *y frien"s in so*e&ay. #ither I &ill let the* listen to it if there is so*ethin! on there they like or &eJll s&a% son!s -ecause &e enHoy so*e of the sa*e *usic. I "efiantly like that it is s*all an" that I can take it any&here. So*eti*es youJll -e over a frien"Js a%art*ent an" they &ill have *usic you like. So I &ill Hust hook it u% to their co*%uter+ fin" the son!s I &ant+ an" "o&nloa" the son!. ?ile sharin! is !reat. It literally connects us to!ether. 6he sharin! *usic an" *e"ia is a &ay for stu"ents to connect &ith frien"s an" even %eo%le &ho *i!ht like the sa*e kin"s of *usic. In a s*all sur!e of e$cite*ent )ee%a continue"+ I "efinitely like that I can %ersonali0e *y i'o"Q I enHoy *akin! it *y o&n. Ms*ilesN .ut+ I think itJs really cool that I can share *usic &ith %eo%le an" listen to *usic I *i!ht have never hear". Si*ilarly+ Ah*e" Desin+ a thirty year>ol" international stu"ent fro* 6urkey "escri-e" his sharin! e$%erience as: 5eally cool. I like it &hen *y 6a&i&anese frien" has *e listen to her *usic an" I have her listen to *y *usic. e &ill even e$chan!e *usic so*eti*es. I like that &e can share our *usic &ith i'o" -ecause &e !et to kno& each otherJs cultures an" likes even thou!ht I kno& &e "onJt un"erstan" all the &or"s that so*e of the sin!ers are sayin! that &ell. In a""ition to the i'o"Js function as a *usical "evice+ its various other uses allo&e" consu*ers like 6yrese illia*s+ a t&enty>one year>ol" .lack %sycholo!y *aHor hile 6yrese

an" stu"ent athlete+ "o so *uch *ore than Hust %lay or share *usic.

re!ularly *a"e ne& %laylists of his favorite ra% artists+ like Lu"acris an" 39Cent for &hen he e$ercises or stu"ies+ he also reveale" that+ It has flash *e*ory so you can u%loa" files. Ya kno&+ for &or" "ocu*ents or assi!n*ents for class. I "o a lot of !rou% &ork in school so so*eti*es IJll -e &orkin! on a !rou% %roHect an" nee" to take a %a%er or t&o &ith *e over a class*ates %lace so &e can e"it it or co*-ine sections of a %a%er -efore &e turn it in. I %ro-a-ly coul"nJt !et *y !rou% &ork "one &ithout it+ es%ecially &ith *y sche"ule.

M.Yaksich 13

6yreseJs use of i'o" "e*onstrate" that the a-ility to u%loa"+ "o&nloa"+ an" transfer infor*ation allo&s users to utili0e the i'o" to *ake connections that are -ase" in the sharin! of non>*usic an" *e"ia files to increase %ro"uctivity an" assist &ith colla-orative !rou% &ork. I think &ith travelin! for foot-all+ everyone in the !rou% likes that I can still contri-ute /6yrese7. ?or Sara Collins+ a &hite t&enty year>ol" #n!lish *aHor+ the social nature of the i'o" coul" -e su**e" u% in one &or" > !enius. If I ha" to choose one &or" to "escri-e it I &oul" sayR!eniusQ Mlau!hs an" s*ilesN 6his "evice can "o so *any thin!s. I *ean !enius %eo%le can "o anythin! they %ut their *in" to. Like %ut a *ath %ro-le* in front of the* an" they can "o it. Give the i'o" a season of any 6@ or E+999 son!s on it an" there ya !oR You can even %ut *usic an" %ictures on it that you can sho& %eo%le "urin! the holi"ays. 6hatJs !enius. I kno& that &hen I ca*e -ack fro* s%rin! -reak last year I sho&e" everyone+ an" I *ean everyone+ *y tan &ith this thin! M*otions &ith i'o" in han"N. I !uess in so*e &ays &hen I can sho& %eo%le %ictures its like sharin! %art of *e. As Sara so enthusiastically %ointe" out+ the sharin! of %ersonal e$%eriences throu!h %ictures not only "e*onstrates ho& the i'o" allo&s for a ne& level of custo*i0ation in &hich %eo%le are constantly chan!in! the i'o"+ -ut allo&s users to connect to one another visually throu!h instances in &hich &hen you see these %ictures even *y *other &oul" -e %rou" of the fun I ha" /Sara7. In contrast to the notion that technolo!y connects %eo%le throu!h *usic an" *e"ia+ Sara also felt that+ Interviewer: )o you -elieve that the i'o" really connects %eo%le in the &ay you sai" it *i!htA Sara: I "onJt think that the i'o" can really connect %eo%le -ecause &hen you use it you are kin" of in your Io&n little &orl"J or -u--le. So there is so*e ty%e of -ein! alone. You *i!ht not even kno& if youJre frien" is callin! out to

M.Yaksich 1C you &hen you &alkin! on the street. I kno& I have i!nore" %eo%le -y accent &hen I have use" it on ca*%us -efore. Mlau!hsN .ut then there is &hen I share *usic &ith %eo%le. Interviewer: hat a-out sharin!A

Sara: Sharin! *usic &ith frien"s is !reat. I "o it all the ti*e+ -ut I "onJt think youJre connecte". You *i!ht feel so*e kin" of connection to your frien" -ecause you listen to the sa*e kin"s of *usic. It *i!ht *ake a connection that &as there stron!er+ -ecause you can have your *usic &ith you *ore often so no& you can share it *ore than you *i!ht have -efore. .ut itJs har" for *e to think that youJre really connecte" as if the i'o" *a"e that %ossi-le. ItJs Hust an i'o" it hel%s you "o thin!s. ?or Sara+ the i'o" *ay a%%ear only as a tool that assists in the enHoy*ent of %articular cultural for*s an" not necessarily increase or %ro"uce social connections. Social isolation *ay -e the *aHor effect %ro"uce" -y i'o" usa!e. 8o&ever+ her reflection "oes %oint to the notion that file sharin! *ay increase or enhance social connections that %eo%le have fro* *usic or fa*ily %hotos. 6his *ay allo& users to re*ain socially connecte" to throu!h the sharin! of %ersonal *e*ories or *usic+ even thou!h so*e of their e$%eriences &ith the i'o" re*ain %rivate.

#It %a'es you feel li'e you(re art of so%ething: Social Connection through "rends hile *any stu"ents use the i'o" to se%arate the*selves fro* their social surroun"in!s *any e$%resse" ho& the i'o" facilitates social connection throu!h tren"iness. After %lacin! his &hite i'o" on to% of a s*all !lass ta-leto%+ (avier 'eSa+ a nineteen year>ol" Latino cri*inolo!y *aHor+ %icke" u% his cu% of hot coffee took a Kuick si% an" -e!an "escri-in! ho&+

ItJs a %art of society no&4 itJs e*-e""e" in the culture. e *ake technolo!y like this so I "onJt think &e &oul" &ant to -e isolate" fro* each other. e can -e+ -ut you can share *usic &ith other %eo%le an" it is not as if this thin! &ill sto% *e

M.Yaksich 1E fro* talkin! to so*eone. 'lus everyone has oneQ M*otions &ith han"sN I "onJt kno& if the i'o" is a tren" or not -ecause technolo!y like this &onJt %ro-a-ly -e !oin! a&ay anyti*e soon. eJre *ovin! to&ar"s technolo!ies that are %ersonal+ -ut also connect %eo%le in ne& &ays. I think that it connects %eo%le+ !ives the* a sense of -ein! %art of so*ethin!. #veryone likeJs -ein! %art of so*ethin!. (avierJs "escri%tion "e*onstrates the social nature of the i'o" is -est characteri0e" as Itren"iness.J 6ren"iness &as "escri-e" -y stu"ents as the feelin! that your &ith %eo%le or a !rou% /San"y7+ or that you i"entify &ith %eo%le an" have so*ethin! in co**on /(avier7. Si*ilar to fashion+ hairstyles+ an" other co**o"ities or other for*s of cultural e$%ression /.e!er+ ,9994 Su0uki L .est+ ,99;7+ the i'o" allo&s users to feel socially connecte" throu!h o&nershi% an" !rou% i"entification. &as tren"y for so*e %eo%le (avier felt that+ ItTs all a-out &alkin! throu!h this &orl" of stran!ers an" seein! so*ethin! you reco!ni0e or have in co**on in<&ith so*eone else. It "oesnJt *ean that you have to talk to the* at all. So if I see so*eone &earin! the t>shirt fro* )stretches %e%ory* a concert or tour+ for e$a*%le+ IT* !oin! to s*ile at the* an" think Iyeah+ I re*e*-er that !i!+ that &as !reat.J A""itionally Sara Collins -elieve" that: #veryone has an i'o". I *ean I had 19to have it. ho coul" resist the "ancin! %eo%le in all those a"s an" 6@ co**ercialsA Mlau!hsN .ut seriously+ it is the only *%; %layer that %eo%le kno& a-out. ItJs Hust like the cell %hone. A fe& years -ack %eo%le "i"nJt have cell %hones+ -ut no& everyone has one. I &oul" think havin! a cell %hone is tren"y for %eo%le+ Hust like havin! an i'o". It *akes you feel like youJre %art of so*ethin!. In contrast+ several stu"ents also -elieve" that the i'o" %rovi"e" the* &ith a sense of uniKue in"ivi"uality that ke%t the* fro* -ein! follo&ers of a tren" /6yrese7. As Sara %ointe" out+ I think a lot of %eo%le &ho have an i'o" are Hust follo&in! the tren". I *ean I ten" to think that even thou!h I have one IJ* usin! it -ecause of its
19

hen "iscussin! ho& the i'o"

Bri!inal e*%hasis.

M.Yaksich 12 features an" not -ecause everyone else *i!ht have one. In a""ition Mark e$%resse" his %ers%ective &hen "iscussin! o&nershi%+ Interviewer: hy "o you think so *any %eo%le o&n an i'o"A

+ar': So*e of *y frien"s "efiantly have the i'o" -ecause itJs tren"y+ they take it all over ca*%us+ an" I *ean they "onJt even really use all of its features. Bne of the* -arely uses it. I think he -ou!ht it Hust -ecause everyone else in the roo* ha" one. Interviewer: )o you one -ecause itJs a tren"yA +ar': Do. I actually use *ost of its features an" I "i"nJt !o out an" -uy it -ecause I sa& others usin! it an" thou!ht I shoul" have one. I !ot it -ecause I &ante" to listen to *usic &hen I &as on *y &ay to class or &orkin! out at the !y*. IJ* not one to follo& tren"s. hile Mark "i"nJt &ant to -e one of the cro&"+ stu"ents often an e$%resse" a sense of in"ivi"uality that re*aine" cou%le" to !rou% i"entification. 6he a-ility to %ersonali0e oneJs e$%erience re*aine" central &hile the act of usin! the i'o" in %u-lic %rovi"e" unity. that I like -ein! a-le to listen to *y *usic &hen IJ* on the !o or &alkin! to class. Most %eo%le I see* to enHoy "oin! that+ I think. e all *i!ht -e in an i'o" cult of so*e sorts+ -ut at least itJs nice to kno& that youJre not the only one &ith &hite ear%hone -u"s or thin!ys stuck in your ears. hen "iscussin! her use of the i'o" &hile &alkin! on ca*%us San"y *entione"

#It definitely gets the arty started: Social Connection through Collective Usage hile i'o" usa!e re*ains a %re"o*inantly %ersonal event+ social connections also take -et&een users at ho*e+ in the car+ or even at %arties throu!h use of the i'o". After searchin! throu!h her overly stuffe" hunter !reen -ack%ack+ an" tyin! her short -lack hair into a %onytail+ 8yon :i* %ulle" out a -lack i'o" Dano &ith a s*all

M.Yaksich 11 rectan!ular "evice Pthe i6ri% P attache". ?or the nineteen year>ol" :orean stu"ent+

ItJs !reat to -e a-le to have all youJre *usic &ith you &hen youJre "rivin! &ith frien"s. I *ean all you "o is attach it Mi6ri%N to the i'o" an" it sen"s a ra"io si!nal that sen"s your *usic to your car stereo. I use it either -y *yself or &hen IJ* on tri%s &ith *y frien"s. Last su**er I "rove to Chica!o &ith so*e of *y frien"s an" &e use" it every ti*e &e &ere in the car. 6hat &as the year &e listene" to :i*-erly ClarksonJs ISince YouJve .een GoneJ al*ost a *illion ti*es. All I re*e*-er is screa*in! the &or"s &ith the* over an" over a!ain. 8yonJs e$%erience &ith her frien"s "e*onstrates ho& the i'o" can -e use" &ithin !rou% situations since listenin! to the *usic you have on your i'o" &ith other %eo%le is al&ays fun. IsnJt that &hat *usic an" technolo!y is all a-outA .ein! &ith %eo%le an" not -ein! stuck in a -u--le all the ti*eA /8yon7. As &ith all instances the i'o" is hi!hly "e%en"ent u%on the conte$t in &hich an in"ivi"ual listener is situate". Activities such as rea"in!+ ri"in! a -us+ sharin! *usic &ith frien"s+ an" even &orkin! &ith An!us McattleN at the fair over the su**er as Sara Collins %ointe" out "enotes ho& the i'o"Js *o-ility allo&s it a"a%t to various situations. In ter*s of !rou% usa!e+ )ee%a note" that the i'o" coul" -e use" for %rovi"in! entertain*ent at %arties: Interviewer: )o you think you coul" use the i'o" &hen youJre &ith frien"sA ,ee a: You coul"nJt use it &ith so*eone &hile youJre &alkin! aroun" ca*%us since it is only -uilt for one %erson to use. .ut so*eti*es &hen *y frien"s thro& %arties IJll -rin! *y i'o" &ith *e -ecause they have a .ose stereo syste* that you can connect the i'o" to that &ill let you %lay the *usic on it. ItJs nice -ecause there are a fe& of us &ith i'o"s so if &e all en" u% -rinin! the* then there is usually %lenty of !oo" *usic. It "efinitely !ets the %arty starte". In contrast+ stu"ents also -elieve" that the i'o" totally "isconnecte" its users fro* others. As (avier %ointe" out+ ItJs co*%licate"+ -ut so*eti*es IJ* *y Io&n little &orl"J

M.Yaksich ,9 Hust thinkin! a-out nothin!. You Hust !et so cau!ht u% in the *usic that it takes you a&ay fro* everythin!. In a""ition Cyn"y 6ho*%son+ a t&enty year>ol" .lack econo*ics *aHor+ sai": IJve seen %eo%le use the i'o" &hen theyJre at %arties or at ho*e listenin! to *usic. Its usually hook u% to a stereo. #veryone once in a &hile so*eone &ill %ick it u%+ scroll throu!h it+ an" %ick out so*e son!s to %lay for everyoneR .ut+ &hen youJre &alkin! aroun" ca*%us an" not in a !rou% situation *any %eo%le "onJt interact &hen they are usin! the i'o". IJve trie" to say hi to so*e of *y frien"s &hen they are usin! the i'o" an" they "i"nJt even kno& I &as there until they coul" actually see *e. Althou!h stu"ents felt that *any i'o" users e$%erience intentional or unintentional for*s of isolation &hile listenin! to *usic+ this shoul" not su!!est that the i'o" coul" only -e use" or e$%erience" -y a sin!le in"ivi"ual. 6he a-ility to use the i'o" to %rovi"e entertain*ent at %arties an" for lon! car tri%s across the country /8yon7 ena-les in"ivi"uals to re*ain socially connecte" &ith a "evice that re*ains %re"o*inantly affiliate" &ith %rivati0e" e$%eriences. As Ah*e" "escri-e"+ hen you ask *e a-out this kin" of technolo!yR the i'o"+ it "efiantly *akes *e think a-out usin! it for *yselfR I have use" it in the car &ith *y frien"s an" &e like that &e can share *usic to!ether. #ven thou!h it is *y *usic+ I think that they like to listen to it+ or even -rin! their *usic over so that &e can listen to theirsR ItJs nice to take so*ethin! that is %ersonal an" share it &ith %eo%le.

)iscussion: 6he i'o"+ 'ersonal 6echnolo!y+ L Social Connections .oun"aries -et&een the %u-lic an" %rivate s%here have -eco*e %articularly "ifficult to locate "ue to the influence of %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" /Meyro&it0+ 11234 Moyall+ 112C4 6ho*son+ 11117. hile the effect of i'o" usa!e is *ultifacete"+ it is

clear that the use of i'o"s has an i*%act on every"ay life /5ei*er+ 11134 ?leisher*an+

M.Yaksich ,1 ,99C7. 'art of uncoverin! the nature of that i*%act is analy0in! inter%retations an" *eanin!s that users !ive to their interactions &ith %orta-le *e"ia "evices. hile scholars

have often "escri-e" the effects of %orta-le *e"ia %layer /'M'7 usa!e as isolationary /8en"erson+ 6aylor+ an" 6ho*son+ ,99,4 :i*+ ,99;7 analysis of the ways the i'o" is use" "e*onstrates that in"ivi"uals can also e$%erience social connection. Qualitative analysis of in>"e%th intervie&s an" %artici%ant o-servations reveal ho& users "evelo% social connections. Literature has note" that the use of %ersonal technolo!ies increases social isolation an" "ecreases social interaction /Chen+ 11124 :i*+ ,99;7. 8o&ever+ e$a*ination of the ways the i'o" is use" "e*onstrate" that in"ivi"uals are socially connecte" throu!h /a7 ?ile Sharin! Pthe electronic sharin! of *usic+ *e"ia+ an" infor*ation -et&een i'o" users4 /-7 6ren"s Pthe i'o" as a %o%ular social *ove*ent that connects in"ivi"uals throu!h *utual o&nershi%4 an" /c7 Collective Usa!e P the a-ility to utili0e the i'o" in social situations. As .ull /,993-7 notes+ i'o" usa!e allo&s users to construct *eanin!s fro* *un"ane every"ay interactions. 6he use of the i'o" an" the *eanin!s users attach to it in"icate its a-ility to create feelin!s of social connecte"ness. ?irst+ stu"entJs a-ility to link &ith other users throu!h file sharing "e*onstrate" that the sharin! of *usic+ infor*ation+ an" %ictures %ro"uces *eanin!ful an" %ersonal connections. Secon"+ the social connection %ro"uce" -y i'o" o&nershi% "enotes ho& trends -in" stu"ents to!ether !ivin! the* a sense of -elon!in! an" !rou% i"entity. ?inally+ the i'o"s *o-ility allo&s users to utili0e its *ostly %rivate features to share *usic an" *e"ia &ith others in social situations throu!h collective usage. #ach of these three areas shoul" not -e vie&e" as one %iece+ -ut si*%ly as three "ifferent &ays stu"ents e$%erience social connection. ?in"in!s shoul" also not su!!est that %ersonal technolo!ies or 'M's "o not %rivati0e %u-ic life+

M.Yaksich ,, -ut that for*s of social connection also e*er!e fro* their usa!e. Un"erstan"in! the &ays %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" are use" an" the i*%act usa!e has on every"ay interactions re*ains an i*%ortant task for sociolo!ists. Given the recent *er!in! of *o-ile "evices such as %hones an" *e"ia %layers+ research *ust take into account ho& the various uses of %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" %ro"uce social connections -et&een users. Althou!h stu"ents in this stu"y also e$%erience" intentional or unintentional for*s of isolation+ this shoul" not su!!est that social isolation is the sole result of e$%eriences &ith the i'o". ?ocusin! only on the isolationary as%ects of %ersonal technolo!ies an" i!norin! the connective as%ects of their usa!e &oul" only lea" to "iscussions that reinforce Itechnolo!ical "eter*inis*J11 /#llul+ 11C=4 Stau"en*aier+ 11237+ an" "is*iss factors such has hu*an a!ency or social structures. Uncoverin! the *eanin!s that e*er!e fro* the use of technolo!y &ill -rin! us closer to un"erstan"in! ho& %ersonal technolo!ies like the i'o" continually structure every"ay social relations.

Appendix B Table 1: Social-Demographic Characteristics of Participants

11

"echnological deter%inis% refers to the ar!u*ent that the "evelo%*ent of technolo!y itself follo&s a %ath lar!ely -eyon" cultural or %olitical influence+ an" that technolo!y in turn has IeffectsJ on societies that are inherent+ rather than socially con"itione".

M.Yaksich ,; Ag e ,= ,9 ,; ,C ;9 ,1 ,9 11 ,9 11

Student San"y ilson Mark 5osen-ur! Sean Sharara )ee%a Sankar Ah*e" Desin 6yrese illia*s Sara Collins (avier 'eSa Cyn"y 6ho*%son 8yon :i*

Sex ?e*ale Male Male ?e*ale Male Male ?e*ale Male ?e*ale ?e*ale

-ace.Ethnicity Caucasian Caucasian AraIn"ian 6urkish .lack Caucasian Latino .lack :orean

+a/or 8ealth Sciences Co*%uter Science 'olitical Science Gra"uate Stu"ent Gra"uate Stu"ent 'sycholo!y #n!lish Cri*inolo!y #cono*ics Sociolo!y

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