What struck me first about this article was just how similar the cell phone "culture" was in Nigeria in comparison to United States'. I specifically remember that without a plan, each text cost ten cents and you were limited to 160 characters. Though we didn't have anything like "flashing," I found it funny the type of interaction a cell phone owner would have with someone he flashed, and just how similar the attitudes are with Americans' behaviors.
It was crazy how similar this is to young people getting phones here in America. When I was in high school, I used prepaid phones, as did a lot of my friends (we were a poorer, rural area). People would always ask if you had minutes or not. Also, I remember younger kids using broken phones to pretend they had phones just for the status boost.
This article really sparked my interest. A cellphone meant more than a way to communicate with someone, but represented their social and wealth status. It represents their own level of economic achievements. What I found interesting and kind of amusing was the "Flash Me, I Flash You". Many cellphone owners cannot afford to maintain credit on a regular basis. Meaning that they can not afford to talk to someone on the phone. So, to "flash" someone is to call the person's line and allow the phone to ring just once, so that the incoming number is displayed to the recipient, but the caller hangs up before they can answer. By doing this, the person that was called knows that the person who called them and hopefully has enough credit to callback. As long as no one picks up the phone the call is free. It just really shocks me that just by owning a cellphone, that tells you what type of status you are.
This was an interesting article about cell phones. It's interesting to see how other cultures love the technology and mark it as a status symbol. I thought it was funny when the author told of the girl with her cell phone problems with her host home and her family taking her phone without thinking about it. The idea of a cell phone is such a high value over there that people just like to hold one. I wonder how much of that is the reality of the lifestyle that the people live in, in comparison to what a cell phone represents. Cell phones represent a more technological world. I might "flash" a couple my friends now.
Cell phones have grown tremendously with all the new technology arriving. I remember when got a phone, but it was something I would only need once I got my license, so I could drive somewhere and let my parents know when I was there and when I was leaving. I liked the "flash" term they used in this article to show someone that another person was trying to get in touch with you. Just like a missed call the person can call when they are ready.
I thought it was interesting in the article, that the use of cell phones to create a small business wasn't unusual (you can borrow my phone for this amount of money), yet using someone else's phone was viewed as similar to sharing food. People were not expected to pay to use another's cell phone. I don't see how a cell-phone sharing business could be successful with this view of cell phone use.
I found this article interesting because I feel like Nigeria is in the place we were about 10 years ago or a little less. At first most people had prepaid phones or just a pretty basic cell phone. A person who had a prepaid phone in America had to buy more minutes each month or few weeks to make sure they had enough "credit" like the Nigerians do. I thought it was pretty interesting too how they just call a person for a second just to show that they called them just so they wouldn't lose as much credit. America's cell phones have gained so much more technology that basically everyone has a smartphone that can do just about anything for you with a few buttons. I feel like the Nigerians were where we were a few years ago before smart phones and data came out.
This article cocnerning was it's perspective on technolocy and social norms of the Nigerians especially in the youth is not unique at all. This story sounds remarkable similiar to how the U.S. population responds to new technology and how you need to upgrade to the lastest IPhone as a stuatus symbol. I did find the idea of not taking food, money from the student who was staying with the Nigerian family but the using her cell phone was to be an expected reciprocal social trade-off. The social dynamics between the African Society and the American Society is not to far off; we have many people in this country who do not have a car, a home, but they have the lastest cell phone. The need to socialize is clearly a need in all humans and the ability to communicate from great distances an improvement in keeping family ties connected. We also tie the type of phone you have to how much money you make or social status. As in the article the writer was not looked upon favorable for he could affored a much higher status of phone than he had. I look at technolgy as a good thing as long as you do not let it control you as a "Techno junkie".
I don't know why I was so surprised to find out that people living in Nigeria would be as obsessed with cell phones as Americans are, but I was. They also seemed to have other similarities with us in their cell phone use in the way they prefer texting to calling and so forth. I found it interesting how symbolic a phone call was. In that respect they differ from us because I don't think America is a culture in which we prize phone calls over texts as symbolic of commitment the way they do in Nigeria. We can also see Nigeria begin to "update" their culture so to speak, to accommodate this new technology wave with "flashing" and all the social consequences that comes with sharing, or not sharing, one's cell phone credit
I found this article interesting, I guess I didn't associate technology with third world nations. I agree with Alex, it seems they have begun to modernize as western influence are more prevalent with globalization. Cell phones as a status symbol is an interesting concept since in America everyone has cell phones and the type of phone you have is more indicative of your socioeconomic status. The symbolism and significance of phone calls is not quite the same in America, but if I think about it I usually only call people like my parents or other older individuals so I can also see some similarities in the preference for texting over calling.
I never really thought about Nigerians having cell phones. It was interesting to read about how its been incorporated into their society. I found the "flashing" concept was hilarious. It was also interesting to read how types of phone and phone usage showed social status. It shows that they aren't so different from Americans. I'd love to see when the smart phone rage starts over there. Also I want to know how young most of them get cell phones.
What struck me first about this article was just how similar the cell phone "culture" was in Nigeria in comparison to United States'. I specifically remember that without a plan, each text cost ten cents and you were limited to 160 characters. Though we didn't have anything like "flashing," I found it funny the type of interaction a cell phone owner would have with someone he flashed, and just how similar the attitudes are with Americans' behaviors.
ReplyDeleteIt was crazy how similar this is to young people getting phones here in America. When I was in high school, I used prepaid phones, as did a lot of my friends (we were a poorer, rural area). People would always ask if you had minutes or not. Also, I remember younger kids using broken phones to pretend they had phones just for the status boost.
ReplyDeleteThis article really sparked my interest. A cellphone meant more than a way to communicate with someone, but represented their social and wealth status. It represents their own level of economic achievements. What I found interesting and kind of amusing was the "Flash Me, I Flash You". Many cellphone owners cannot afford to maintain credit on a regular basis. Meaning that they can not afford to talk to someone on the phone. So, to "flash" someone is to call the person's line and allow the phone to ring just once, so that the incoming number is displayed to the recipient, but the caller hangs up before they can answer. By doing this, the person that was called knows that the person who called them and hopefully has enough credit to callback. As long as no one picks up the phone the call is free. It just really shocks me that just by owning a cellphone, that tells you what type of status you are.
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting article about cell phones. It's interesting to see how other cultures love the technology and mark it as a status symbol. I thought it was funny when the author told of the girl with her cell phone problems with her host home and her family taking her phone without thinking about it. The idea of a cell phone is such a high value over there that people just like to hold one. I wonder how much of that is the reality of the lifestyle that the people live in, in comparison to what a cell phone represents. Cell phones represent a more technological world. I might "flash" a couple my friends now.
ReplyDeleteCell phones have grown tremendously with all the new technology arriving. I remember when got a phone, but it was something I would only need once I got my license, so I could drive somewhere and let my parents know when I was there and when I was leaving. I liked the "flash" term they used in this article to show someone that another person was trying to get in touch with you. Just like a missed call the person can call when they are ready.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting in the article, that the use of cell phones to create a small business wasn't unusual (you can borrow my phone for this amount of money), yet using someone else's phone was viewed as similar to sharing food. People were not expected to pay to use another's cell phone. I don't see how a cell-phone sharing business could be successful with this view of cell phone use.
ReplyDeleteI found this article interesting because I feel like Nigeria is in the place we were about 10 years ago or a little less. At first most people had prepaid phones or just a pretty basic cell phone. A person who had a prepaid phone in America had to buy more minutes each month or few weeks to make sure they had enough "credit" like the Nigerians do. I thought it was pretty interesting too how they just call a person for a second just to show that they called them just so they wouldn't lose as much credit. America's cell phones have gained so much more technology that basically everyone has a smartphone that can do just about anything for you with a few buttons. I feel like the Nigerians were where we were a few years ago before smart phones and data came out.
ReplyDeleteThis article cocnerning was it's perspective on technolocy and social norms of the Nigerians especially in the youth is not unique at all. This story sounds remarkable similiar to how the U.S. population responds to new technology and how you need to upgrade to the lastest IPhone as a stuatus symbol. I did find the idea of not taking food, money from the student who was staying with the Nigerian family but the using her cell phone was to be an expected reciprocal social trade-off. The social dynamics between the African Society and the American Society is not to far off; we have many people in this country who do not have a car, a home, but they have the lastest cell phone. The need to socialize is clearly a need in all humans and the ability to communicate from great distances an improvement in keeping family ties connected. We also tie the type of phone you have to how much money you make or social status. As in the article the writer was not looked upon favorable for he could affored a much higher status of phone than he had. I look at technolgy as a good thing as long as you do not let it control you as a "Techno junkie".
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I was so surprised to find out that people living in Nigeria would be as obsessed with cell phones as Americans are, but I was. They also seemed to have other similarities with us in their cell phone use in the way they prefer texting to calling and so forth. I found it interesting how symbolic a phone call was. In that respect they differ from us because I don't think America is a culture in which we prize phone calls over texts as symbolic of commitment the way they do in Nigeria. We can also see Nigeria begin to "update" their culture so to speak, to accommodate this new technology wave with "flashing" and all the social consequences that comes with sharing, or not sharing, one's cell phone credit
ReplyDeleteI found this article interesting, I guess I didn't associate technology with third world nations. I agree with Alex, it seems they have begun to modernize as western influence are more prevalent with globalization. Cell phones as a status symbol is an interesting concept since in America everyone has cell phones and the type of phone you have is more indicative of your socioeconomic status. The symbolism and significance of phone calls is not quite the same in America, but if I think about it I usually only call people like my parents or other older individuals so I can also see some similarities in the preference for texting over calling.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about Nigerians having cell phones. It was interesting to read about how its been incorporated into their society. I found the "flashing" concept was hilarious. It was also interesting to read how types of phone and phone usage showed social status. It shows that they aren't so different from Americans. I'd love to see when the smart phone rage starts over there. Also I want to know how young most of them get cell phones.
ReplyDelete