Generational effects in communication tools interweaving

The question of interweaving communication tools and social relations points to a tension between individual equipment and its social network equipment trade-offs. In terms of equipment, the existing research has shown the differences in the modes and the rhythms of ICT appropriation within the various age groups and relational circles. However, this explanation does not take into account all factors linked to the lifestyle variations between individuals according to the life cycle position, personal networks configuration, and generational dimension of the ICT appropriation trajectories. To analyze the interweaving of the ICT and the sociability, we will combine here various data sets: individual questionnaires, telephone and internet traffic measures and qualitative studies. Our analysis is based on 2,730 individuals’ statistically representative French panel which was running in 2005 and 2006, and articulated different data sources by mixing different research techniques: (1) detailed mobile and fixed telephone communication data from billing records; (2) automatic tracking of computer activity at home; (3) phone and paper questionnaires, administrated periodically all along the 18 months of observation. We first analyze the scope of the interlacing between various voice and text communication tools that mobilize telephony, SMS, IM and/or email and factors of their usage. Afterwards, we analyze how the age cohorts structure the equipment penetration rate as well as the trade-offs between tools in the communication between generations.