The use of smartphones in the sociability networks of brazilian university students living in a student residence is analyzed. A field research was carried out with participant observation, notes in field diaries and dialogical encounters. The material was analyzed under Social Psychology and Material Culture Studies. The uses of smartphones maintain and reinvent sociability practices, turning them into artefacts of “physical-affective communication”. In addition, they participate in the emancipation process and produce an extension of cyber-holding in youth, facilitating adaptation of life to university. On the other hand, the sense of attachment to smartphones causes tensions between their sociability networks and generates anxiety.

Se analiza el uso de los smartphones en las redes de sociabilidad de universitarios brasileños que viven en una residencia estudiantil. Fue realizada una investigación de campo con observación participante, anotaciones en diario de campo y encuentros dialógicos. El material fue analizado desde la Psicología Social y los Estudios de Cultura Material. Los usos de los smartphones mantienen y reinventan prácticas de sociabilidad, convirtiéndose en artefactos de “comunicación físico-afectiva”. Además, participan del proceso de emancipación y producen una extensión del cyber-holding en la juventud, facilitando la adaptación de la vida a la universidad. Por otro lado, el apego a los smartphones causa tensiones con sus redes de sociabilidad y genera ansiedad.

The use of smartphones in the sociability networks of brazilian university students living in a student residence is analyzed. A field research was carried out with participant observation, notes in field diaries and dialogical encounters. The material was analyzed under Social Psychology and Material Culture Studies. The uses of smartphones maintain and reinvent sociability practices, turning them into artefacts of “physical-affective communication”. In addition, they participate in the emancipation process and produce an extension of cyber-holding in youth, facilitating adaptation of life to university. On the other hand, the sense of attachment to smartphones causes tensions between their sociability networks and generates anxiety.