This site hosts just a fraction of what I learned during my year in Tanzania. The fellowship began as an exploration of the social and economic impacts of mobile phones. It has grown into a relevant contribution to the field of technology and development studies.
Enjoy this summary, based on the full paper by myself and Kentaro Toyama, while we await publication.
Skol,
Meg
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Users can be categorized based on what type of phone they own, how they use their phones, and what benefits they obtain from their devices. Most people rely on mobile devices for social activities, and while some experience economic benefits, few lean on their phones for business and educational activities.
There is a widespread system of sharing, with its own pros and cons, and while it can objectively be called an overall convenience to most, it does not replace the autonomy and efficiency of owning your own mobile device.
Among these low-income users, phone use is often in contention with other costs, creating fragile financial situations. They sometimes work intensely, forgo eating, and accrue debt in order to afford their devices.
Cultural expectations can place additional strain on already vulnerable financial circumstances, mobile phone behavior is sometimes dictated by economic well-being, and social rifts are emerging between demographic groups as a result of cellphone adoption.
