Conclusion

These respondents provided examples of times when they acted altruistically, thereby demonstrating that mobile symbiosis does not always lead to acts of social incivility. In fact, extensive social networks and the reliance on others for an increased sense of security may foster altruism and community-mindedness. The ubiquitous nature of mobile phones may encourage people to get involved without perceiving that they are putting themselves at risk. The experience of public mobile phone use as mobile symbiosis may, in fact, lead the user to feel as though they are not acting alone; this sense of deindividuation and disinhibition may encourage helping behaviors.