Staying connected while physically apart: Digital communication when face-to-face interactions are limited

Theoretical and empirical work on digital media use social connectedness has often considered face-to-face communication to be an available option. But how do various uses relate when is not, or much less, possible? Drawing survey data from 2925 US adults during the early months of COVID-19 pandemic, we find that different methods display relationships with under stay-at-home circumstances limited in-person interactions outside home. Overall, relates lower connectedness. In line notions presence theory, especially in (e.g. email, media, online games, some extent text messaging) negatively connectedness, while this not case for higher voice video calls). Our study implications theorizing about times less available.