A hierarchical regression analysis of U.S.-based Korean immigrants' mobile communication use (i.e., voice calling and texting) and their social network characteristics (i.e., network size, diversity, and centrality) revealed significant associations between texting with coethnic strong ties and network centrality within the ethnic community. Korean immigrants who texted frequently with both coethnic and host weak ties had larger networks. Network diversity was, however, associated only with voice calling with host ties (both strong and weak). These findings have implications for theories of bounded solidarity. Specifically, the results suggest that mobile communication is significantly associated with (a) denser social networks, and (b) an important and unique source of social capital embedded in immigrant communities. © 2015 International Communication Association.

mobile communication Social networks Weak Ties Bounded Solidarity Theory Coethnic Ties Host Ties Strong Ties

regression analysis Bounded Solidarity Theory Coethnic Ties Mobile telecommunication systems Host Ties Strong Ties Mobile communications Weak ties Social networking (online)