Money & society · 2023
When people are together at restaurants or cafés, is taking food photos just a side activity, or does it sometimes take priority?
It can take priority. In observations of young adults photographing food and drinks at restaurants and cafés, taking photos often took precedence over other activities rather than remaining a side activity. This describes the interactions studied, not how common that pattern is among all diners.
Details
Researchers examined video recordings and mobile-device screen captures to understand how food photography fits into time spent with others. They analyzed how participants coordinated speech, movements and phone use as interactions unfolded, rather than testing the effects of photography in an experiment. Taking pictures could fit around other activities, but it was also often given priority. Participants organized photo taking around what was happening socially and around current or anticipated changes in their physical surroundings. The central finding is that photography’s place as a main or side activity was worked out during the encounter, rather than being fixed. The abstract does not report the sample size or establish effects on attention to food, enjoyment or relationships.
What do you think?
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