Bubble Bias: Impact of Mimicry, Texting Style, and Phone Type on Perceived Likability in Text Message Communications of iPhone Users

The subconscious mimicry of others’ behaviors, termed “the chameleon effect,” has been studied in face-to-face interactions and is now gaining attention in digital contexts. Such mimicry is linked to likability in both face-to-face and online communication. Additionally, recent work indicates subtle social biases may influence perceptions in online interactions. The present study examined how linguistic mimicry, message style, and phone type (iPhone vs. Android) affect text message sender likability. Results indicated that mimicked messages and cases where both texters used iPhones led to higher likability ratings. These findings are the first to empirically demonstrate how subtle digital cues (e.g. message bubble color reflecting phone type) affect interpersonal perceptions, offering new insights into the role of mimicry in computer-mediated communication.