Mobile Internet

Both readings this week examine the way mobile phones are used in low-income countries. Each author takes a skeptical look at the way mobile tech can bridge the digital divide (Wijetunka, p. 712) or bring about social change (Wasserman, p. 148). The ability of mobile phones to create positive influence is seen as  too simple and technological deterministic to apply across the board to low-income countries, despite cheap access to the devices.

New technology did have positive effects in communities with significant mobile penetration, but research showed that access still can exacerbate digital divide since phones are designed with affordances that are only understood by privileged groups. Wijietunka discusses the way inequalities are built into phones in Sri Lanka when they’re designed for youth who “have previously engaged in with the use of computers (p. 719).

Wasserman looks at inequalities in a separate but similar way. In his example as well, underprivileged peoples cannot use a phone to its full usage. However, in this case it’s because of prohibitive costs (subscriber rates, owning chargers) of using the phones (p. 149). 

Mobile tech is used more to “full capacity” by governmental organizations and privileged people. Underprivileged groups in both articles mainly use phones for talk and text —  passive usage (Wasserman, p. 154).

Wijietunka’s focus group interviews only looks at the inequalities built into phones. Wasserman’s analysis shows how underprivileged groups can overcome those inequalities through creative means and “transgressions.” There are informal economy in parts of Africa centered on cellphone technology use. Wijetunka hints at transgressions by saying Sri Lankan underprivileged youth sometimes take extra steps to overcome areas where they lack cultural capital/competency (p. 722). 

Part 2:

I would like to design a study about the mobile Internet and undocumented immigration in the U.S. Mobile technology has changed the way we communicate, and studies already show U.S. Latinos use mobile more than other similar demographics. My study would survey undocumented immigrants/refugees in South Florida who are young adults (ages 18-34) that identify as Hispanic/Latino ethnicity and own mobile devices.

My first research question would compare mobile usage between immigrants from low-income (Honduras, El Salvador, etc) and medium-income countries (Venezuela, Colombia) in Latin America, using GDP per capita as a guide.

1) How do immigrants from countries with higher GDPs use mobile technology different than immigrants from countries with lower GDPs?

My second question would be on how undocumented immigrants to create identity while living in a new country.

2) How do Latino immigrants use mobile technology — through apps and interpersonal communication — to define themselves?

These questions would aid immigration studies by showing the disparities between the ways undocumented immigrants use their mobile phones, and whether immigrants from more “privileged” (according to GDP) backgrounds use phones more to full capacity (Wijetunga, p. 713). NGOs could use this information to better train new immigrants on how to use affordable mobile technology in their lives. NGOs and news media could use the second question to understand informal networks (a version of “radio trottoir”) and how they communicate and receive information and satisfy personal and cultural needs.