ABSTRACT
Kelsey Woods and Michael D. Slater, Ohio State University, Jonathan Cohen, University of Haifa, Benjamin K. Johnson, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and David R. Ewoldsen, Michigan State University
This chapter explores how being perpetually connected and perpetually online affects experience with narrative. We outline a model for understanding the complex interplay between media multitasking and narrative engagement. We suggest that the relevance of multitasking to the narrative, and the sociality of that multitasking, influence narrative engagement and the capacity of narrative media to satisfy intrinsic needs. Furthermore, we examine the differences between synchronous narrative engagement and asynchronous engagement, both often facilitated by online activity. Finally, we discuss the broader implications of narrative experience within a POPC society and suggest future directions for research.
