Social Effects of Cell Phones

Introduction

Our generation has witnessed many amazing inventions of current age. Television in 1950s, Internet revolution of 1990s and cell phone technology, all these inventions have changed the way we communicate. Today, billions of people have mobile phone connections, and this technology has become a global phenomenon (Campbell & Park, p. 372). Cell phones have taken place of landline, and more and more people are using cell phones in social situations. Cell phones are our best companions today, which use on a regular basis in our daily lives.

Brief History

Today's mobile technology is a natural consequence of continues development of radio communication, which begin in 1800s. Marconi has played a very crucial role in the development of radio technology. This technology continually grew in early and mid 1900s. Communications used by Marines was very beginning of mobile technology. The development of the transistor was a breakthrough, which eventually led to another bid innovation in radio-based mobile technology. During 1980s, various mobile telephony standards were developed in U.S. In Europe, NMT became first successful cellular system, which also allowed international roaming (Ling, p. 6). Afterwards, there has been no stopping of innovations that have been accomplished within the mobile industry. Innovations and applications such as GSM, SMS, MMS, Edge, 2G, 3G and many more are in the pipeline. All these technologies have changed our social paradigms and there no doubt that future innovations will continually affect our current social boundaries.

Discussion

Social Change Perspectives

There are different perspectives regarding technology changing society or society shaping technologies. According to “Deterministic view”, it is technology that shapes society. According to this view, technological devices are the root of social shifts. Then, there is an opposite view. According to “Social Determinism View” technologies are reinterpreted by people (Ling, p. 23).

Change in Social Standards

Socially acceptable commutation standards have changed. According to different researches, people reply to calls in public places or events, during funerals, in restaurants while having a dinner. Today's younger generation has different ideas and values regarding leaving a social group in order to leave a personal call or get engaged in text massaging regardless of what ever important social event is going on. There was a time where it was considered unethical to leave a conversation before ending the meeting, but today people have developed a neutral behavior regarding someone leaving a conversation to attend a phone call or even text at the same time while conversing. Usage of cell phones during funerals or during organization meeting is a great example of change in our behavior towards new standards (Pinchot et.al, p. 7).

Perspective of Other Societies

Technologies can have quite different impact in different cultures, as every society has its own value and standards of morality, reactions and adoption of technology can be different. A religious issue spread through text messaging might not have much effect in a society with freedom as its root, like in U.S., but such ways can be used in other closed cultures to spring hatred and anger through usage ...