hi guys after the tute I had yesterday I started having a few thougts about mobile phones and their use and impact within the society. This was partly due to the talk we listened to and also in part due to on the three things we wanted to change within our society one of the topics was the reliance on mobile phones. So what sort of issues are associated with the use of mobile phones?
Well for one mobile phones do have some positives, for instance in emergencies or if someone breaks down in the middle of nowhere. So it has definatly been of help for these instances, particularly in the country, but how did we used to cope before them. For one thing if we broke down we would have to walk to help.
Secondly mobiles have helped people keep in contact, on the long term, so just by sending a quick text or by helping to organise people into meeting up, sending a group text saying when and where meeting up. They are good to use when we are overseas however due to the style of text messaging it is easy to lie about where we are or the environment we are in.
So in order for us all not to think that its all la-dee-da because there have been some negative consequences with the increase use of mobiles. Firstly in regards to etiquette how annoying is it when people text or answer the phone when your are trying to serve them or you are asking them a question or telling them a story. When is it appropriate to answer and how inconsiderate it is when people's phones go off either during movies or when people are giving a speech or presentation.
The issue of privacy is raised by people talking loudly on the phone about personal topics in a public arena and not only is it a concern for the person speaking but also for the person who is being spoken about and doesnt know the physical context of the conversation. On the wider spectrum when using the phones in a public domain there could be a suggestion that there is an alienation to the surrounding people without even acknowleding the people they walk by. So does this mean that the "new" generation is only concerned with who is in their address book rather than face to face conversation?
Next there is concerned about the grammar used in text messages and the acronyms and abbreviations used. This concern comes mainly due to the fact that this language is being used in the wider doman such as in university assignments. Is it really necessary to use such phrases as MIA, TTFN and LOL when talking to our grandparents or teachers?
The cost on the person of upholding the mobile phone can be enormous with not only spending an enormous amount of money on texting or ringing but also due to having to keep up with the latest ring tones and games on your phone. People often feel obligated to do this in order to be cool with their friends.
Some of the uses of the phone can be ridiculous such as when lost in the supermarket or answering a person's message with an ok. The phenomenon of alcohol and mobiles can be disastarous and lead to relationships and friendship breakdowns.
In the past there have been claims that increased mobile phone use leads to radiation and can even lead to cancers but as far as i know these have not been supported by evidence.
Finally there is the concern with drivers and mobile phones, although it is illegal to use phones while driving if you observe drivers there is a large proportion who still talk and text while supposdly concentrating on the road. Although handsfree and speaker phone are probably better options they still involve the impinging on a persons concentration that can lead to accidents that have the severe consequence of death of another person. So how can this message get across?
Anyway while there are some good points, eg for security and friendships and I am one of those people that feel naked without my phone but there are also some not so good aspects involved with mobils such as isolating those around them and what is our language and social culture being evolved into.
So i would love to hear any other thoughts or ideas related to mobile phones! thanks :)
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Hi Bre! I was having a read of your blog on the topic of mobile phones and I found it quite interesting. I just completed a group research project for sociology of technology and work which was looking at whether people's age impacted their use of mobile phones. Our research showed that the younger age groups were extremely reliant on their phones for social reasons in particular and reported that they used their phone all the time, never turned it off and would feel a great deal of stress if they were without it for a day. The 50+ category of participants reported rarely using their mobile phones and if they did it was only for emergencies or when they were on holidays. When asked how they would feel if they did not have their phone for a day, they said they wouldn't even notice. From these results and from discussing the topic with older participants we found that the reason for this age difference is because older participants didn't grow up with mobile phones, whereas our generation has practically known nothing but a life with mobile phones. It's a bit scary to think about it to be honest...what could the next generation be growing up with?
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