The use of Cell Phone in Everyday Life among Teenagers in Kirtipur Municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

The present study entitled "The Use of Cell Phone in Everyday Life among Teenagers in Kirtipur Municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal" concentrated on studying the emergent socio-cultural impacts of massively expanding means of communication namely cell (mobile) phone in urban areas of Nepal which has also been taken to remote villages in recent years. The study was carried out with the principal objectives of : i) finding out general impressions (understandings) of the teenagers about the possession and use of cell phone service; ii) their main reasons for using this facility ;and iii) the impact of cell phone on the socio-economic aspects of its users (teenagers in this case). Apart from those objectives, the study was also targeted towards encouraging the culture or self-reflection of the advantages and disadvantages of the mobile device among the respondents (teenagers) of this study and offering lines for further research. The principal source of data were 94 school going teenagers (aged13-19) studying in two higher secondary schools of Kirtipur Municipality, Kathmandu. Similarly, the input of the key informants has also been integrated in the study. The data from the respondents were collected by administering semi-open and open ended questionnaire between May-July 2008. Descriptive statistical means were used to present and analyze the data. Whenever possible and appropriate, the qualitative data obtained from the key informants are also integrated. However, the dominant part of the study is based on quantitative analysis of the data obtained from the principal respondents (teenagers). The analysis was made basically on the basis of the variables of age and sex of the respondents. The findings of the study are: i) the teenagers of Kirtipur, regardless of their age and gender, took cell phone as a useful means of communication although they report some drawbacks of its use toward the family/social relationships and culture, ii) The main reason for their use of cell phone was their search for secrecy along with its easiness, diversity of uses; and iii) The adolescent teenagers were more aware of the social /financial impacts of cell phone and they were more responsible users of cell phone than the pubert (younger) teens.