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Virtually in this together – how web-conferencing systems enabled a new virtual togetherness during the COVID-19 crisis

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  • Janine Hacker
  • Jan vom Brocke
  • Joshua Handali
  • Markus Otto
  • Johannes Schneider

Abstract

Regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19 have affected corporations, institutions, and individuals to a degree that most people have never seen before. Information systems researchers have initiated a discourse on information technology’s role in helping people manage this situation. This study informs and substantiates this discourse based on an analysis of a rich dataset: Starting in March 2020, we collected about 3 million tweets that document people’s use of web-conferencing systems (WCS) like Zoom during the COVID-19 crisis. Applying text-mining techniques to Twitter data and drawing on affordance theory, we derive five affordances of and five constraints to the use of WCS during the crisis. Based on our analysis, our argument is that WCS emerged as a social technology that led to a new virtual togetherness by facilitating access to everyday activities and contacts that were “locked away” because of COVID-19-mitigation efforts. We find that WCS facilitated encounters that could not have taken place otherwise and that WCS use led to a unique blending of various aspects of people’s lives. Using our analysis, we derive implications and directions for future research to address existing constraints and realise the potentials of this period of forced digitalisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Janine Hacker & Jan vom Brocke & Joshua Handali & Markus Otto & Johannes Schneider, 2020. "Virtually in this together – how web-conferencing systems enabled a new virtual togetherness during the COVID-19 crisis," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(5), pages 563-584, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tjisxx:v:29:y:2020:i:5:p:563-584
    DOI: 10.1080/0960085X.2020.1814680
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    Cited by:

    1. Olt, Christian M. & Hendriks, Patrick & Sturm, Timo & Moos, Clara C., 2024. "From Avatars to Allies: Exploring Team Collaboration in the Metaverse," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 141899, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    2. Martin Thomas Falk & Eva Hagsten, 2023. "Reverse adoption of information and communication technology among organisers of academic conferences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(3), pages 1963-1985, March.
    3. Matsuo, Miwa & Gaydarska, Hristina, 2023. "Do ICT development and internet use decrease intra-regional work-related travel?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    4. Gutierrez-Lythgoe, Antonio, 2023. "Teletrabajo en Twitter: Análisis mediante Deep Learning [Teleworking on Twitter: Analysis using Deep Learning]," MPRA Paper 117101, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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