Mobile Cultures - Literature review Example

Name Institution Mobile Cultures Mobile Cultures Introduction The rise of mobile communication has received tremendous changes. Smart phones have provided a networking system that has merged various cultures. Wireless radio experiments paved way for wireless internet through mobile phone. Mobile phones have created a drift between adults and children (Lacohee, Wakeford and Pearson, 2003, p. 208). Instantaneous communication is witnessed in social networking regardless of the time and place (Pearson, 2011, p. 2). Mobile phone and the internet are different technologies that complement each other and bring about hyper-sociability. It has proved impossible to inspect and regulate content in mobile phones and social networking sites (Donald, Anderson and Spry, 2010, p. 132). The study of mobile culture has focussed on the effect of mobile culture while ignoring dangers of excessive usage of these devices. This is a problem that needs to be addressed as teenagers are at a vulnerable phase characterised by peer pressure. Communication is essential for youths especially on the many social platforms that cut across different cultures. Teenagers have numerous uses for their phones that render them vulnerable to vices. These youngsters are perpetuates and victimize others through cyber bullying over the internet. The aim of this essay is to underscore the dangers that are brought about by excessive usage of mobile phone by teenagers. Usage of Smart Phones Teenagers find it agonizing to do without a mobile phone even for a few hours. Lack of a mobile phone is associated with boredom and leads to interrupt from happenings all over the world. Calling, texting, viewing videos and uploading photos are some of the uses of mobile phones among the youths. Smart phones have brought about more interactive forums where youths share their opinions and thoughts on different topics. In this manner, teenagers find it cumbersome to establish actual relationship with family members and the society at large. Youths are busy communicating with their peers on social networking sites whereas their parents are frustrated trying to create solid relationships with their children. It is not uncommon to come across a teenager busy on phone while at lunch with the parent. Furthermore, these youths rely on their parents for basic needs and expect the same parents to load their phones with money to bear with their lifestyle. The relationship between parents and teenager sours as a result. Hereafter, a collision between parents and children comes about. The youths have established ‘intimate’ relationship with their phones that sabotage real relationships with their parents and others. On the other hand, parents are vowing not to cater for finances brought about by the excessive usage of mobile phones. This collision between teenagers and their guardians has resulted in many vices in the society. Teenagers come up with other means to sustain their usage of mobile applications. Moral panic arises when youngsters express their opinions that deviate from cultural and social values in order to have a number of followers (Curran, Harrison and Mackinnon, 2013, p. 17). Dangers of Excessive Usage of Mobile Phones Smart phones are expensive to buy and maintain. Video games uploaded from the internet are pricy and addictive to youths. Mobile phones incorporate marketing strategies that attract youths to these services. Furthermore, teenagers are at a delicate stage that entails ‘following the crowd’ that is negative peer pressure. To have a sense of belonging they play the same games and view same clips. Teenagers defraud their parents’ money to buy and maintain smartphones. Their level of concentration is minimal as a result of excessive usage of smart phones as they become attached to their phones (Beer, 2012). These habits undervalue social morals as well as cultural standards. Attention Disorders Smart phones promote poor interpersonal bonding because they entice mobile users to get hooked on to them. Attention disorders creep in as a result. Nomo phobia is one of the most rampant attention disorders that are a counselling issue among psychologists. Anxiety and withdrawal are some of the symptoms associated with this type of phobia. Interestingly, research indicates that this behaviour is more rampant among women as compared to their male counterparts (Seber, 2013, p. 49). More investigation needs to clearly elaborate why this is so. Persons ailing from attention disorders need specialised care for normal functioning. Failure to diagnose and intervene may cause serious harm such as suicide and depression. Smart phones are equipped with numerous applications that involve all aspects of an individual’s life. Cameras, maps, media players, among others are applications provided by smart phones to their subscribers. Virtual communication has taken over traditional form of communication which is face to face communication. Virtual communication has encouraged introverts to engage with others over the internet increasing the number of people assessing social networking sites. Virtual communication is more abrupt and inspires users to express their emotions pointlessly. This has also encouraged mobile users to express their opinions without fear of contradiction. Social networking sites have effective marketing strategies thereby attracting to assess them. For example, Twitter followers have an option of retweeting as well as hast tagging to emphasise and contribute to a certain topic. Facebook on the other hand provides a list that informs users of trending topics of the day. This aids in the spread of topics and passing information to larger audience. Users of smartphones experience intensified need to interact socially. This can result in compulsive behaviour. There is a certain level of worry that is experienced by teenagers when they receive no messages or calls on their phone. Moreover, some teenagers reportedly experience phantom vibrations of anticipated calls or messages. This behaviour can be associated with mental disorder and can result in delusions. Interpersonal relationships are ruined since teenagers are busy focusing on friendships through social media while ignoring those close to them (Reimold, 2013, p. 41). These disorders are cause depression especially among the youths and can cause suicide. Security Risks Smart phones have the ability to record the users’ crucial information such as personal location, bank account details and can also provide places an individual has visited. In the event the phone is lost a lot of personal information lies around and can fall into the hands of an identity thief. In addition, smart phones are prone to malwares that cause data leakage especially though wireless networks. Furthermore, there are people who are experts in hacking people’s private information and making a living out of it. Most teenagers do not fully understand the terms and conditions stated when purchasing applications provided by mobile phone providers. Consequently, a number of youths are aware of the threats caused by exposing personal information over the internet but are unaware of preventing these damages. Personal information such as recently visited places is easily available on the internet increasing the risk of being trailed. Virtual communication has also resulted in inappropriate content that is stumbled upon teenagers who are anxious to fill their heads with knowledge. Access to the internet has facilitated accessibility of overrated content. Moreover, people of different opinions are on social media and their content is also handy to all. Bullying emerges as users of social media are victimized or perpetuate anti-social behaviour over the internet. The infamous “Werribee DVD incident” best explains this. It is upsetting to imagine the extent which social media destroyed a young girl’s perception of mobile culture. This event led to the realisation that teenagers are vulnerable and are exposed to outrageous crimes brought about by social networking sites. The gang that raped and filmed the horrible incident acted as a gang and filmed such ill-mannered contents on social media. The incident was available on the internet way until complains were issued against social networking sites on the issue (Gabriel, 2013, p. 15). The incidence also established that teenagers influence each other through new media. Smart phones are fitted with cameras and video technology that provides video tapes and tracking devices. This is rampant among teenagers who want to prove they are endowed and experts in technology. In so doing, this habit spreads to others who encourage bullying and hazing. Parents ought to engage with their children and observe their practices over the internet to ensure they are not bullied or bullying others (Kowalski, Limber and Agatston, 2010, p. 189). Victims of bullying are ridiculed using photographs and videotapes that are widespread across social networking sites. Child pornography has spread as a result of cyber bullying. Youths need to put aside time away from internet to empower themselves and be more productive. Smart phones make it easy to access information anywhere regardless of location. The device is small in size and one can often go unnoticed. It is therefore difficult to realise when one is busy texting or productive in various sectors. For example, a student may appear to be busy studying but could be having various activities on phone such as playing a video game. Unlike adults, teenagers are more likely to mishandle their phones in terms of usage and expenditure. Lifestyle Diseases Lifestyle diseases are on the rampant among the youth. Could it be because much of their time is spent on their smart phones? Undoubtedly, a teenager who spends roughly six hours daily on the phone is likely to acquire a number of lifestyle diseases (Caron and Caronia, 2007, 144). Such ailments include posture related ailments, sleep disorders and lack of exercise. Exercises are important for all people regardless of their ages in order to speed up metabolism thereby preventing obesity. Smart phones have created a culture whereby users express their emotions and affect other people’s emotions too. This is because people update and give opinions on personally experiences and relate with other experiences shared among different users. Research conducted among young adults led to the realization that excessive usage of mobile phones causes psychiatric injury. The research recommended enlightening general public on side effects of excessive usage of mobile phones (Nehra, et al, 2012, p. 181). It is anticipated that abuse of mobile phone will be so like abusing a drug and will require rehabilitation to do away with the bad habit. Youths experiencing low self-esteem are likely to unleash their frustration on social platforms that offer little relevant treatment (Nehra, et al, 2012, p. 177). Sleep is vital for normal body functioning. Smart phones have deprived teenagers of their sleep as they are accustomed to interrupted sleep as they stay up late chatting and surfing the internet. Sleep disorders among teenagers are on the rampant and tasking for parents to treat and ensure their children function normally. It is unfair for parents to bear the burden for these teenagers that choose to overwork their systems. Apparently, lack of adequate sleep among teenagers affects their normal body functioning (Moore and Meltzer, 2008, p. 114). Conclusion Social and cultural values are undermined by excessive use of smart phones especially among teenagers who are yet to conform to set values. As a result, vices affecting entire society are on the rise. Teenagers are culprits to this as they are at a delicate stage that is influenced by outside forces. Researchers have offered solutions on how to strengthen relationship between parents and youths that is evident in this digital era. Parents are advised to monitor their children on social media in order to ensure they are not bullied or bully others. There are a number of incidents on cyber bullying that have proved the internet is an insecure place for youngsters. Virtual communication has diminished actual relationships even among family members. This is accelerated by the fact that new media incorporates enticing strategies that target vulnerable youths. There is need to ensure youths remain productive in the society. Bad peer pressure is facilitated through excessive usage of the internet. Social networking sites offer unfavourable environment as they expose teenagers to potential harms. Effective measures need to be formulated that punish cyber bullies and protect personal information from leaking. Having emotional attachment with an artificial object is a cause of alarm as it deviates from cultural and social values. Substituting personal real life relationships with virtual communication is disheartening to a society that seeks unity and harmony. References Beer, D. (2012). The Comfort of Mobile Media uncovering Personal attachments with everyday devices convergence, The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 18(4), 361-367. Caron, A. H. & Caronia, L. (2007), Moving Cultures: Mobile Communication in Everyday Life. USA, McGill-Queen’s University Press. Curran, S., Harrison, R. & Mackinnon, D. (2013), Working with Young People. USA, Sage. Donald, S. H., Anderson, T. D. & Spry, D., (2010), Youth, Society and Mobile Media in Asia, USA, Routledge. Gabriel, F. (2013), Deconstructing Youth: Youth Discourses and the Limits of Sense, UK, Palgrave Macmillan. Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P. & Agatston,P. W. (2010), Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. USA, Wiley Publishers. Lacohee, H., Wakeford, N. & Pearson, I. (2003). A Social History of the Mobile Telephone with a view of its Future, BT Technology Journal, 21(3), 203-211. Moore, M., & Meltzer, L. J. (2008), The sleepy adolescent: causes and consequences of sleepiness in teens. Paediatric respiratory reviews, 9(2), 114-121. Nehra, R., Kate, N., Grover, S., Khehra, N. & Basu, D. (2012), Does the Excessive use of Mobile Phones in Young Adults Reflect an Emerging Behavioural Addition? J Postgrad Med Edu Res, 46(4):177-182. Pearson, A. (2011), The Mobile Revolution, USA, Qualex Consulting Services. Reimold, D. (2013), Journalism of Ideas: Brainstorming, Developing, and Selling Stories in the Digital Age, USA, Routledge. Seber, G. F. A. (2013), Counselling Issues, USA, Xlibris. Appendix 1: QUESTIONNAIRE. Instructions: Kindly respond to all questions by writing a brief answer or tickling in the boxes provided. NB: All information gathered will be kept confidential. 1. How old are you? 17 years 2. Do you have a phone? Yes If yes is it a smart phone? Yes. 3. Approximately, how many hours do you spend on your phone each day? 6-7 hours 4. How many of these hours are spent on the internet? 5 hours 5. Do you read the terms and conditions offered before signing up for various social media sites? NO 6. Do you understand terms and conditions for accessing social networking sites? No 7. Which social sites have you signed up for? a.) Facebook [ √ ] b.) Twitter [ √ ] c.) Instagram [ √ ] d.) My space [ √ ] e.) Skype [ √ ] 8. On a scale of 0-10, (where 0=not private at all and 10-extremely private), how confident are you that social networking sites are safe to share private information? 1 9. Do you upload real images of you on social media? yes 10. a), Have you had any offensive experiences on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? Yes b), If yes, briefly describe the incident. I uploaded a photo on Facebook and someone commented that I was too ‘covered up’. Read More

The youths have established ‘intimate’ relationship with their phones that sabotage real relationships with their parents and others. On the other hand, parents are vowing not to cater for finances brought about by the excessive usage of mobile phones. This collision between teenagers and their guardians has resulted in many vices in the society. Teenagers come up with other means to sustain their usage of mobile applications. Moral panic arises when youngsters express their opinions that deviate from cultural and social values in order to have a number of followers (Curran, Harrison and Mackinnon, 2013, p. 17). Dangers of Excessive Usage of Mobile Phones Smart phones are expensive to buy and maintain.

Video games uploaded from the internet are pricy and addictive to youths. Mobile phones incorporate marketing strategies that attract youths to these services. Furthermore, teenagers are at a delicate stage that entails ‘following the crowd’ that is negative peer pressure. To have a sense of belonging they play the same games and view same clips. Teenagers defraud their parents’ money to buy and maintain smartphones. Their level of concentration is minimal as a result of excessive usage of smart phones as they become attached to their phones (Beer, 2012).

These habits undervalue social morals as well as cultural standards. Attention Disorders Smart phones promote poor interpersonal bonding because they entice mobile users to get hooked on to them. Attention disorders creep in as a result. Nomo phobia is one of the most rampant attention disorders that are a counselling issue among psychologists. Anxiety and withdrawal are some of the symptoms associated with this type of phobia. Interestingly, research indicates that this behaviour is more rampant among women as compared to their male counterparts (Seber, 2013, p. 49). More investigation needs to clearly elaborate why this is so.

Persons ailing from attention disorders need specialised care for normal functioning. Failure to diagnose and intervene may cause serious harm such as suicide and depression. Smart phones are equipped with numerous applications that involve all aspects of an individual’s life. Cameras, maps, media players, among others are applications provided by smart phones to their subscribers. Virtual communication has taken over traditional form of communication which is face to face communication. Virtual communication has encouraged introverts to engage with others over the internet increasing the number of people assessing social networking sites.

Virtual communication is more abrupt and inspires users to express their emotions pointlessly. This has also encouraged mobile users to express their opinions without fear of contradiction. Social networking sites have effective marketing strategies thereby attracting to assess them. For example, Twitter followers have an option of retweeting as well as hast tagging to emphasise and contribute to a certain topic. Facebook on the other hand provides a list that informs users of trending topics of the day.

This aids in the spread of topics and passing information to larger audience. Users of smartphones experience intensified need to interact socially. This can result in compulsive behaviour. There is a certain level of worry that is experienced by teenagers when they receive no messages or calls on their phone. Moreover, some teenagers reportedly experience phantom vibrations of anticipated calls or messages. This behaviour can be associated with mental disorder and can result in delusions. Interpersonal relationships are ruined since teenagers are busy focusing on friendships through social media while ignoring those close to them (Reimold, 2013, p. 41). These disorders are cause depression especially among the youths and can cause suicide.

Security Risks Smart phones have the ability to record the users’ crucial information such as personal location, bank account details and can also provide places an individual has visited.

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