Running head: BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 1

Behavioral Effect of Mobile Phones to Young Users in the

Philippines.

Mohamed nour, Abdelrehim S.

Mark Garcia.

University of Baguio

Author Note

This research paper is submitted in partial fulfillment of

the subject Technical Writing 1 under Mrs.Sabrina Brineth Ramos.

BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 2

Behavioral Effect of Mobile Phones to Young Users in the

Philippines.

Worldwide technology and its changes play a major role in

each individuals life. The current trend of the society is to

adopt every change in the field of communication technology. The

mobile phones are boon of this century. Mobile phone is

considered as an important communication tool and became the

integral part of the society, it is not only a communication

device but it also a necessary social accessory. People are

increasingly using mobile phones rather than the fixed

telephones. The cell phone today is a lifeline for many. It is

estimated that around 4.5 billion people use the cell phone

worldwide. And it comes as no surprise that a huge chunk of this

quantity consists of the youth. The cell phone is more of a

necessity for them than a luxury. Umpteen number of surveys

conducted on the youth worldwide have figured out that they

consider cell phones an integral part of survival and some have

even gone to the extent of saying that they would rather go

without food for a day than without their cell phones. With

constant texting, calling, listening to music, playing phone

games or simply fiddling with the phone being such an integral

BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 3

part of their lifestyles, it is little wonder that not having it

around strikes them with paranoia.

According to a report by Business Monitor International (BMI),

there are about 117 million mobile phone subscribers in

Philippines making it the worlds twelfth-largest cell phone

using developing country by end-2016 (Garcia, 2014). My Phone,

Cherry Mobile, Samsung, iPhone, Lenovo etc. are the popular

mobile phone brands in Philippines market luring their customers

by introducing latest mobile phones at regular intervals (Singla,

2012). There has been quite an enormous amount of popularity of

cellular phones in younger generation within a short span of time

(Hakoama & Hakoyama, 2011). Youth is more inclined towards using

mobile phones for activities other than communication than older

generation (Mackay & Weidlich, 2007) because in adolescence

stage, people are more susceptible to changing fashion trends and

style, building them more Tech savvy which creates certain

behavioral disorders. On the contrary, administrators and

teachers frequently consider the use of cell phones by students

at schools, restraining them from their education and this arises

as hurdles in their education (Johnson & Kritsonis, 2007).

Moreover, mobile phones have aided in smoothening the progress of

social release of youngsters from parental authority (Ling,

2004). But, their parents often have more sense of security when
BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 4

their children travel independently outside their home along with

their phones (Baron, 2010).

Discussion

Mobile Phones

Definition. A mobile phone is a wireless handheld device

that allows users to make calls and send text messages, among

other features. The earliest generation of mobile phones could

only make and receive calls. Todays mobile phones, however, are

packed with many additional features, such as Web browsers,

games, cameras, video players and even navigational systems.

A mobile phone may also be known as a cellular phone or simply

cell phone. When the first mobile phones were introduced, their

only function was to make calls, and they were so bulky it was

impossible to carry them in a pocket. Later, mobile phones

belonging to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

network were capable of sending and receiving text messages. As

these devices evolved, they became smaller and more features were

added, such as multimedia messaging service (MMS), which allowed

users to send and receive images. Most of these MMS-capable

devices were naturally equipped with cameras, which allowed users

to capture photos with the built-in camera, add captions, and

send them to friends and relatives who also had MMS-capable

phones.
BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 5

A mobile phone with highly advanced features is called a

smartphone, while a regular mobile phone is known as a feature

phone. A mobile phone typically operates on a cellular network,

which is composed of cell sites scattered throughout cities,

countrysides, and even mountainous regions. If a user happens to

be located in an area where there is no signal from any cell site

belonging to the cellular network provider he or she is

subscribed to, calls cannot be placed or received in that

location.

Application. A mobile app is a software program you can

download and access directly using your phone or another mobile

device, like a tablet or music player. To download and use

application you need a smart phone or another mobile device with

internet access. Not all apps work on all mobile devices. Once

you buy a device, youre committed to using the operating system

and the type of apps that go with it. The Android, Apple,

Microsoft and BlackBerry mobile operating systems have app stores

online where you can look for, download, and install apps. Some

online retailers also offer app stores. Youll have to use an app

store that works with your devices operating system. To set up

an account, you may have to provide a credit card number,

especially if youre going to download an app that isnt free.

Kids and Mobile Apps

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What should I know before I download an app for my kids? In

a recent survey of mobile apps for kids, Federal Trade Commission

(FTC) staff found that kids apps might:

collect and share personal information

let your kids spend real money even if the app is free

include ads

link to social media

Whats more, the apps might not tell you theyre doing it.

To learn more about an app before you download it, look at screen

shots, read the description, content rating and any user reviews,

and do some research on the developer. You also can look up

outside reviews from sources you respect.

Are there ways to restrict how my kids use apps? Before you

pass the phone or tablet to your kids, take a look at your

settings. You may be able to restrict content to whats right for

your kids age, set a password so apps cant be downloaded

without it, and set a password so your kids cant buy stuff

without it. You also can turn off Wi-Fi and data services or put

your phone on airplane mode so it cant connect to the internet.

The best way to keep up with kids apps is try them out yourself

and talk to your kids about your rules for using apps.
BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 7

Components

Parts inside a cell phone. If you want to know what parts

are there inside your cell phone, go through the entire article

to know all the information you need. All cell phone repair

technicians need to know what spare parts are there in any mobile

phone or Smartphone. These spare parts are the same in all cell

phones as well as tablets be it by any handset manufacturer like

Apple, Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, Nokia, Blackberry, LG, Sony, etc.

The difference may be that only the shape and size of the parts

may be different. Also the location of the parts in every model

may differ. But the function of the parts in all the handsets

will be the same.

Types of Parts in Mobile Phones

External Parts. The external parts consist of snap on covers

(casing) which can be detached and replaced by hand with the help

of opening tools.

Internal Parts. There are a lot of parts in a cell phone but

the most common parts are defined down:

1. PCB: The green or blue coloured board inside a cell phone is

called the PCB (Printed Circuit Board). It is also called

motherboard. It is the most important part in a cell phone.

All the ICs which perform various functions are fixed on

BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 8

this circuit board. All the parts are attached to this

board. It is what an engine is to a car.

2. Battery: It supplies power to the cell phone. In most phones

the battery is easily removable after removing the back

cover. In others, you will need to dismantle the entire

handset to remove it. The output voltage of a cell phone

battery is either 3.7V DC or 3.8V DC.

3. Mic: It is also called microphone and mouth piece. It

converts voice into electrical signal. Its function is to

send our voice to the called person. It will always be at

the bottom inside a cell phone.

4. Speaker: It is also called earpiece and receiver. It

converts electrical signal into sound signal. Its function

is exactly opposite of mic i.e to listen to the voice of the

called person. It will always be at the top inside a cell

phone.

5. Ringer: A ringer is also called a buzzer or loud speaker. It

is a speaker with which we hear the ringtones and music and

all the sounds which we hear louder.

6. Vibrator: A vibrator is also called vibration motor and

vibra motor. It is a DC motor which creates vibration when

BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 9

it rotates. The vibration in the handset when we receive a

call is due to this part.

7. Keypad: It works as an on-off switch. When we press the

button. its two connectors contact with each other and the

button functions. Keypads are outdated now, but still we

need to know about it!

8. Antenna: Its function is to receive and transmit the

signals. Now all models have antennas that are inbuilt and

hence not visible from outside. In old phones, antennas were

external and hence were visible.

9. Display: The screen of the phone is also technically called

as display. It is liquid crystal based and so it is known as

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

10. Touch: It is a transparent part, above the LCD which

allows the touch function to work. In most models now, the

LCD and touch are fused together into one part.

11. Flex: Flex is a brownish golden colored cable which is

used for connecting parts. Its not used in all cell phones.

It is used for connecting either LCD, touch or camera to the

PCB.
BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 10

12. Battery Connector: It connects the battery to the PCB

of the mobile phone. It is the part that transfers the

voltage from the battery to the PCB.

13. SIM Connector: It connects the SIM card to the PCB of

the cell phone.

14. Charging Connector: It is a socket in which an external

charger is plugged in to charge the battery of the mobile

phone. It transfers the voltage from the charger to the PCB.

It is also called charging port.

15. Earphone Connector: We insert the earphone (headset)

into this part.

There are many more connectors on the PCB like LCD connector,

touch connector, camera connector, etc.

Behavior of Users

Cultural Behavior. Its mainly compare the use of mobile

phones by young people from different national cultures to gauge

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their impact on their mobile phone usage. As mentioned above,

these studies provide some evidence for the socio-cultural

shaping of mobile phone usage. The following four studies by

Ishii and Wu (2006), Campbell (2007), Katz and Sugiyama (2006)

and Chakraborty (2006) provide some evidence that young people

living in different countries may use mobile phones differently.

Ishii and Wu (2006) conducted nation-wide surveys and

qualitative observations at matchmaking sites in Taiwan and Japan

to compare the different communication media usage patterns of

young people in the two countries. The study reported that while

Taiwanese youth (88.8%) used a variety of Internet tools such as

Instant Messenger (IM) and chatting, comparatively fewer Japanese

youth (58.1%) used such services. Contrastingly, Japanese youth

(87.2%) were more likely than Taiwanese youth (77.8%) to use

mobile phones, including voice and SMS/e-mail. The study further

noted that Taiwanese youth used PC-based Internet mainly for

communication, while Japanese youth primarily used it for

entertainment purposes. Furthermore, the study showed that none

of the Japanese youth revealed their phone numbers in their

messages on matchmaking sites, whereas Taiwanese youth disclosed

their phone numbers (16%) and 35 personal e-mail addresses (32%).

The authors concluded that culturally Taiwanese young adults

placed more trust in internet, whereas Japanese youth tended to

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avoid direct communication, thus indicating that different

personal relationships patterns in the two countries impacted

their use of communication technologies.

To understand the influence of culture on the perception and

uses of mobile phone, Campbell (2007) conducted a survey with 318

students from a private university in Hawaii. The data was

analyzed from 231 participants (65% females, 35% male) from

different countries including US mainland (89), Hawaii (53),

Taiwan (34), Sweden (29), and Japan (26). The questionnaire

consisted of questions pertaining to the use of mobile phones as

fashion statements, for safety/security, instrumental (need-

based) communication, and expressive (expressing feelings and

emotions) use and the use of mobile phones in public places. The

findings revealed that there were more cultural similarities than

differences regarding the use of cell phones among respondents.

For example, the use of cell phones for fashion statements was

similar for participants from all cultures. However, there were

two prominent cultural differences in usage: Japanese

participants showed a lower tolerance for cell phone use in

public and Swedish participants were less likely to use mobile

phones for safety/security purposes. The author suggested that

the reason why Japanese were less tolerant of mobile phone use in

public was probably because of high population density in Japan

BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 13

which makes it easy for others to overhear mobile phone

conversations. Similarly, the author explained that the Swedes

probably felt less need to use mobile phones for safety/security

because of low crime rate in Sweden.

The above studies comparing mobile phone usage in different

countries show that there are both similarities and differences

regarding the use of mobile phones by young people and that these

differences could be due to cultural reasons and the surrounding

environment in which users live or the cost structure of the

services.

Individual Behavior. As cell phone functions increase,

addictions to this seemingly indispensable piece of tech become

an increasingly realistic possibility. In the society now, people

feel disconnected without their mobile phones with them. Study of

Roberts (2014) revealed that 60% of college students admit that

they are addicted and they get agitated when their phones are not

in sight.

People get dependent of their phones that even talking with

someone else is through their phone. There is much less chance of

conversation with the people around and lesser interactions

between individuals.
BEHAVORAL EFFECTS OF MOBILES TO YOUNG USERS 14

Having a cell phone will tempt your teen to spend all day

talking or texting, instead of doing anything productive. Studies

have proven that teens who spend too much of their time with

their cell phones are more prone to stress and fatigue. It can

also lead to psychological disorders in some cases.

Most of the teens keep their cell phones nearby while

sleeping to respond to texts and calls. They feel pressurized to

remain reachable around the clock. It leads to sleep interruption

and disruption. Teens also become irritable when they are sleep

deprived.

Teens are more likely to respond to calls, text while

driving, and riding than adults. They talk and text on the phone

without realizing that it can cost their lives. Even the U.S.

Government Website for Distracted Driving has proven that traffic

crashes are the leading cause of death in teens.

Academic Behavior. Experiment conducted by Kuznekoff

(2015) shows that those students who did not use their mobile

phones during lectures get higher scores compared to those who

use their phones. Using mobile phone inside the classroom can

distract the students from listening to their professors and

others also use their phones to cheat during quizzes and exams.
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Laziness also strengthens because of the existence of mobile

phones. Others just take a picture of the lessons and that serves

as their notes, less note writing. They also just download e-

books rather than having a book with them. Limiting the usage of

mobile phones is a must or yet the best option is not to use

their phones during classes.

Conclusion and Recommendation

It is great to be a part of the growing technological world, and

everyone should enjoy its benefits, including the teens, but in

moderation. Cell phones are not going anywhere, at least no anytime

soon. So you need to teach your teens about mobile phone safety and to

use it responsibly. They also need to have agreed boundaries for

mobile phone usage. Here are some ways to avoid negative effects of

cell phones on young users:

Negotiate with your teen what should be the acceptable

amount of time and money spent on cell phones.

Tell him/her to curb his/her impulse of replying to the

text.

Turning off the cell phone while driving is the best option.

Turning off the cellphone before going off to sleep will

help maintain a regular sleep schedule.

References
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Baron S. (2010). The Dark Side of Mobile Phones, Retrieved from

http://www.american.edu/cas/lfs/.../The-Dark-Side-of-

Mobile-Phones.pdf

Chakraborty, S. (2006). Mobile phone usage patterns amongst

university students: A comparative study between India and

USA. Unpublished masters thesis, University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC. Retrieved from

http://etd.ils.unc.edu/dspace/bitstream/1901/311/1/sayancha

kraborty.pdf.

Campbell, S. W. (2007). A cross-cultural comparison of

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Garcia, A. (2014,May 28). ABS-CBN news. Philippines, The

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