Implications of Cell-Phone in Contemporary Society

Exploring the Implications of Cell-Phone in Contemporary Society

Introduction

            Looking into the history of communication, it dates back to many of decades ago when societies used drums and smoke signals in America, Africa, and in Asia to communicate. Conventional patterns of the smoke signals or the beat of drums conveyed particular messages which were inherently interpreted according to the conventions in these societies. Given the need to ensure message is transmitted over long distance within the shortest time, telecommunication began to develop. In Europe, semaphore systems which were fixed appeared for the first time in 1790s. Significant breakthrough was however seen come 1830s where systems of electrical telecommunication came to limelight. The electrical telecommunication started with the invention of the classical telephone which transmitted the analog voice signal from person to another. The telephony was basically focused majorly on voice communication where it carried human voice from one person to another over along distance unlike the smoke signals or drum beats. Notably, the telephone then was specifically designed for the analog transmission but not the digital communication which entails video, data or music. In order to ensure all elements of transmission are included in communication, scientists have continued to bring new inventions which have taken communication a notch higher especially with wireless communication of cell phone.

As communication technology continues to gain pace, old methods and technology has been rendered obsolete with the advancement of modern telecommunication technology which has significantly made immense strides. Microelectronic technology where scientists were able to use small chip, PC, and computer technologies have been the marvel of the modern telecommunication in transmitting, switching, and receiving video, data, and voice communications modes using diverse transmission media like electromagnetic, copper, and the latest fiber optic transmission. PC technologies and wireless communications have merged to take communication to the advanced mode. Gone were the times when people used to walk miles before they could access the fixed lines of communication. Wireless communications have no doubt revolutionalized communication not only in the society but also in workplace. The cell phone has significantly redefined social dynamics leading nomadic working, social interaction as well as continued communication.

Background Information

            With PC technologies and wireless communication becoming more pervasive and portable, the capacity of people in the contemporary society to be connected has significantly improved in new settings of connectivity, coordination, and responsiveness. Woodsworth (2010) explains communication as a result of cell phones has predominantly played significant role in personalizing the network environment. This research paper delves into the implications of the widespread use of cell phone in communication in the contemporary society. Inevitably, the cell phone has brought new modes of social networking and coordination, relatively personalizing the public spaces and budding the emergent youth culture using the cell phone.

            Certain periods in the history of technological breakthroughs have been quite phenomenon and trademark in world of invention. These periods have been the 1950s marking the invention of television, 1990s which saw the exponential rise of Internet, and the most defining invention of the contemporary society – the mobile telephony. 

            Mobile communication has by far been the most phenomenal invention which has seen a widespread embrace by both the young and the old generation who are fascinated by its personalized applications and features. Billions of people are being witnessed in mobile subscriptions worldwide and still continues in the exponential curve in growth. It is not surprising that the burgeoning use and adoption of cell phones communication technology has vehemently contributed to the stockpile of social implications, which includes the new representations of new social connection, self, and private expression – the undeterred use of the public forum created.

            Mobile communication has significantly merged well with the Internet platform and taken wireless communication by storm. In the widespread adoption of cell phones in the contemporary society, there has been apparent change in the social dynamics in which it can be argued that cell phone has brought the significant progression from old mass media leading to the personalized communication trend in the society today. Undoubtedly, the in vogue communication via cell phones has shaped social and cognition organization. The new mobile communication has seen a new social order which has made the world a global village; talking to people across continents has been just a touch of the screen away. Ling (2008) asserts that the changes in the adoption of wireless communication have nourished the particular changes in the present social order which is primarily rooted on the prevalent social conditions. The cell phone communication today serves as the lenses for examining the prevalent social order, how it has been produced and continues to be reproduced in this communication system.

            According to Kavoori and Arceneaux (2006), the communication of the mobile phones has led to the modern era to be referred as the age of personal communication. The social implication of the cell phone cannot be ignored because they have in a great way influenced the way people behave, communicate with others as well as deal with others business wise. Such are the consequences of the use and adoption of the wireless communication. Nowadays, information sharing has tremendously increased as opposed to the ages of telephone lines whose accessibility was only in the urban centers. The GPRS and the satellite phones have significantly made remote communication possible even in areas that lack social amenities.

Literature Review

            According to Woodsworth (2010), the invention and proliferation of cell phones together with other wireless communication gadgets has significantly challenged the traditional modes of communication and sharing information. In comparing the mobile communication with telephone line communication, differences have been seen in the way each influenced communication. Whereas telephony enabled the communication of people over long distances, mobile communication has increased the interconnectedness as well as improved accessibility of communication equipment in society. Like other PC technologies, the cell phone is portable, personalizes communication, and has immensely increased flexibility that was initially not provided by telephony. 

Ling and McEwen (2010) have explained that, “… using a mobile phone involves the simultaneous engagement with more senses. …we simultaneously touch, hear and see via the mobile phone in order to keep in touch with our friends.” Through the cell phone communication has been more than just mere conversation because the integration involved brings senses as well as the corporeal attachment which coincidentally unfolds the emotional attachment and the achievement of social identity of the very self. Cell phones have overtime been regarded as stylish and hold a certain prestige. This has always been because of the personal nature attached to the cell phones. Mobile communication has at times brought the social status of a person in focus because it leads to one connecting with friends always as opposed to the telephony which is fixed. The cell phone to be precise is as the personal artifact which someone attaches to his or her body and not like the shared domestic landlines which can only be found in certain physical locations.

Symbolically, a cell phone characterizes the self as portrayed in the color, ring tones, brand, shape and adornment ornaments. Beth (2011) clearly points out that the youth are among the cliché of people embracing and celebrating the advent of cell phones which are to them a mode of symbolic communication. As much as one would acknowledge on the use of cell phones in communication, the personal flair and the physical appearance of cell phones to many a youth represent an elevated status in the society as well as the group association. The cell phones’ fashion has thus been determined via the social interactions over the net. The cell phone’s fashion has been pointed out as integral by many users especially the young where it has been associated to essentially intersect with technology function. For instance, Campbell and Park (2008) explain of there being positive link between views of cell phone as a viable fashion and the resultant utilization of this technology as a way of relational expression. On the other hand, the two scholars found no empirical relationship between cell phone use and fashion especially in the use for purposes as an instrument in safety and logistical coordination. Redmayne et al (2010) further pointed out that users of cell phones are ready to exchange certain functionalities so that they could get the style they want on of the handset. Thus cell phones have had significant implications especially the technology fashion which influences the expression and formation of one’s identity.

            In addition, scholars have found out that fashion was a significant tenet that empirically influenced efforts of users of cell phones and in their bid to at times communicate with other people. In the gratifications theory and applying uses, Ling and McEwen (2010) comment on the particular motives for cell phone use which are status and fashion for they inherently give the phone the aspect that it’s a valued symbol in the social identity expression. Other scholars (e.g. Kavoori & Arceneaux, 2006; Marsden, 2010) have followed the suggestion that the flair of the cell phone influence the personal outlook in the resultant self presentation. Woodsworth (2010) in this view was quick to assert that people have innately share the universal bid especially in communication and this has overtime being expressed in the way people use and think about the PC technologies, mobile phones included.

            The social change in the mode of communication has in the recent past been attributed to the very human desire to unabatedly contact with one another. In the views of Marsden (2010), the human theoretical framework in this case is accentuated by the flair increasing in the nature of people to communicate with the new gadgets. The perpetual contact notion as the Science Daily (2010) claims emanate with sociability and the pure desire for communication and thus the cell phones have increased the ability of people in moving towards social interaction worldwide. Similarly, symbolic importance of the cell phone communication has been wholly integrated in mass media as a trend where the society has progressed toward a personalized and increased social interaction.

Discussion 2

            Although at many times restrictions have been put in the use of cell phones in certain designated areas, cell phones have arguably remained the effective mode of communication that has ever permeated the society so far. Everyday actions and decisions have been confirmed socially in the interpretation of the social conventions, norms, and rules as either wrong or right. The social interactions as a result of the cell phones in the contemporary society cannot be ignored as they have led to certain actions and decisions, more so from the involvement of others in the social networking. The way wireless technology has played in the society has been significant given that people have been able through such interactions able to influence major decisions in the lives of other after all. The cell phone implications in the society have both had positive and negative impacts.

            Among the advantages is the fact that cell phones have brought about what can today be called the mediated interaction which has added new dimensions on the societal ethical considerations. Think about the persecutions that would have gone unnoticed in the world today. The modern cell phone embraces video recording and this scenes has been uploaded on supporting social networks leading to activism which has significantly influenced the ethical considerations.

            Wireless communication has brought about social networking and coordination which are ways in which mobile technology has manifested itself in the society. Communication through the cell phone has had immense impacts on the society where coordination efforts have been minimal and a call away. The coordination is done in two fronts where there is the hyper-and micro-coordination. Mobile users have been able to use the applications on their mobiles to connect with other and coordinate basic logistics for humanitarian charities, organize trips and save lives. Business communication has never been smooth than during this era of mobile telephony. The applications have enabled business people to conduct business communication online and even in remote offices. A good case is the Kenyan Safaricom MPesa where a business transaction can be conducted through the mobile phone as well as the payments. Such is the revolution of the mobile communication which has not only enabled people work away from offices but also make payments without going to banks as was the case before. On the hyper-coordination, this has been possible because it involves the relational and expressive dimension where cell phone communication has enabled families and friends living apart to chat and talk through text messaging.

            Social and cultural constraints which have impeded free expression have been overcome through the cell phone due to the personal nature. Restrictions of time and space have also been overcome in order for individuals in the society to effectively coordinate with others doing the same thing for the same cause. This is because of the nature of cell phones and their applications which have brought network convergence and resulted to purpose. This can be done anywhere, anytime virtually and the issue of time is limitless making people’s lives more constructive. Cell phones have made the society stronger by being able to support social networking sites where personal bonds are strengthened through tweeting, chatting, and text messaging. Singles have been able to meet their better halves through social networks supported by mobile phones.

            However, the disadvantages of the cell phones have also shad significant impact in the lives of people in the society. Beth (2011) claims that mobile phones have led people in committing fraud. As a myriad for public settings, the mobile communication has been preyed by fraudsters who trick and at times ruin the lives of innocent people. Anonymous callers have preyed on unsuspecting victims and robbed, raped and even killed them after wooing them to meet. Pedophiles have even used mobile phones to ensnare young children ending up abusing them.

            Furthermore, the personalized nature of the mobile communication has been also abused by other people in society. There are those people who take and post pictures and videos in the social sites and yet such sites can be accessed by the underage. The underage have also access to the mobiles which further corrupts the young minds in case they come across such uncensored images.

Findings 2

            Cell phones have in the recent past being used by organizations because of the portability and flexibility to ensure communication is maintained even by those working in outreach departments like the sales and marketing. This ensures control and easy supervision is achieved. Communication with customers and employees is key to any success for the organization. Mobile communication even to some extend personalizes the interaction such that the clients do not feel as complete strangers but rather as friends to the organization.

            Another major finding in cell phone communication indicates that families and friends have enjoyed close and tighter ties. This is because even when the family members and friends are away, it is a matter of a call and one knows how they are doing. A research conducted in the US on understanding youth behaviors indicates that those teens who have access to mobile communication are less stressed that those who cannot because they are in constant touch with friends and thus have a social network of friends who help them relax through talking and chatting over the mobile phone anywhere anytime. In addition, teens without mobile phones had low esteem of themselves while those possessing mobile phones had a higher self-esteem simply because it gave them a sense of style and social status among peers. Even adults it is evident that cell phones depict as certain status in society and this further cement the social structure in the society and give confidence in self identity.

            Further findings indicate that mobile communication has achieved the status of being standard feature among people in the society. Mobile communication has been ideal to many people because if they do not wish to talk to the other people they can effectively text them and thus do their work during the interlude before they can reply the message back. Seeking clarification can be done either way because one while talking or chatting can ask a question. Mobile communication over the social media has been quite effective where large sums of humanitarian money and other assistance commodities have been raised. The modern cell phone has all the qualities of a mini-computer and thus people in society have been able to log into social networks and through micro-coordination drummed for support of certain causes (Ling, 2008). Although there are negative things about cell phones in the contemporary society, the positive aspects outweigh the negatives.

Conclusion

Telecommunication evolution has been able to rise from the need of man to communicate with one another starting with drums and smoke signals, telephony, to the modern cell phone. The cell phone communication has been a blessing to the society because communication has overtime become flexible and personalized resulting to stronger bonds in our families and society because of its utilization as association tool. The contemporary society has much to praise the advent of mobile phones because the feats it has been able to achieve through mobile communication could not be achieved with other forms of communication after all.