Digital relatedness: A longitudinal study on social resources and the use of smart technology

Abstract

The digital world is a vital place to connect with others. This study investigates individual differences in experiencing relatedness through new technologies, or "digital relatedness." The study is grounded in a novel framework that combines social and digital capital and self-determination theory perspectives. We used a three-wave survey conducted from 2021 to 2023 involving 1226 Finnish adults and applied random effects within-between models for data analysis. The results show positive within- and between-person effects of a preference for interacting with artificially intelligent systems (over humans) and the use of smart technology on digital relatedness as well as positive between-person effects of a sense of local community belonging. The positive effect of using smart technology was particularly evident for individuals with a lower or medium level of local community belonging. The results suggest that frequent technology use can enhance digital relatedness, especially for those less connected to their local community.