The Everyday Experience of Connectivity Limits – Insights from French Students during the Covid Pandemic

Abstract

From Ubiquitous Computing to the recent deployment of 5G technology, public discourses assume ever increasing levels of connectivity, whether in geographical availability, in reliability, or in speed. However slowdowns, breakdowns, and unavailability are an integral part of the experience of everyday connectivity. We conducted critical incident interviews with 10 students (aged 22-25) to understand how they dealt with the various connectivity limits they faced during the COVID19 pandemic, but also how they deliberately set limits at times. Our results show the complex relations that people develop with their internet connection. We outline the informants’ difficulties to identify and understand the nature of the connection’s problems they usually face, leading to a lack of control. We present how they react to such problems, the anticipation strategies and coping mechanisms they develop. We finally present situations in which informants deliberately set their own limits. Overall, we emphasize the shift from a shared and localized connection (WiFi) to a personal and mobile one (4G), combined to increased pressure for maintaining connectivity.