GROUP MEMBERS

Nadeem 10278

Rizwan Khan 8494

 Youth and Cell Phones

“A research project submitted to Dr. Tanveer Anjum in IQRA UNVERSITY

(Main Campus) Karachi in part fulfillment of the requirement for the Business
English course.”
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It would be very easy to say that we, as a team of two members completed our Term
report ourselves with research. Since this term report has inputs from many other people.
Thus we would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

First of all, we would like to thank all the people who participated in the questionnaire
session that we conducted. Without their help and opinions we would never have been
able to collect the Primary Data.

Secondly, we would like to acknowledge our Professor Dr.Tanveer Anjum, who from the
start gave her inputs and her ideas on how to write this term paper. In addition, she also
provided us with the knowledge about the topic which was essential in understanding the
information that we obtained.

Lastly, we would like to thank our families for understanding and providing us with the
resources to complete this research paper.
 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

Dr. Tanveer Anjum

Faculty of Business English
Iqra University
Karachi.
Date: April 29, 2009

Respected Teacher,
We have the pleasure of submitting the final report on Youth and Cell Phones in
Pakistan. The purpose is to find out the impact of the mobile phone on the lives of young
people. In this report, we have taken opinions of various people from different areas.

We have prepared this report as a part of our term report assigned us by the teacher and
we hope that the report will be up to your expectations and the people, who will read it,
get a good understanding about the impact of the mobile phone on the lives of young
people.

The report will fulfill its purpose and be beneficial to you as we have done our best to
optimize our results.

Yours Sincerely
Nadeem (Reg # 10278)
Rizwan Khan (Reg # 8494)
 TABLE OF CONTENT

S.No: TOPIC
1 ABSTRACT
2
INTRODUCTION
3
LITERATURE REVIEW
4
METHODOLOGY
5
DATA COLLECTION
6
SAMPLING METHOD
7 DATA ANALYSIS
8
RECOMMENDATION
9
CONCLUSION
 1

ABSTRACT

Globalization has many aspects. It contains important discursive

aspects in the form of ideologically charged narratives that put before the
public a particular agenda of topics for discussion, question to ask and
claims to make. The whole world is accepting and adopting the ways
towards the advancement of technology. The youth is playing a vital role in
this rapid pace. The strong and mighty cultures are toppling the frail ones.
Unfortunately the countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have strong
cultural values, norms and customs that are easily fettered by the western
cultural onslaught. Our youth is concentrating on some bad choices.

In this report we look at the impact of the mobile phone on three major areas
of the lives of young people – daily life, family & relationships and school.
For young people today, life is very different. They live in a world where
almost three quarters of them own their own mobile phone by the age of 13-
15. Many of them would not think of answering the landline at home, as “it
might not be for me.”
 INTRODUCTION

In this global village, firstly our youth was allured to divert their attention towards
the internet. They have changed a lot by the usage of internet. A few of them have
inclined for knowledge, information, awareness and exposure but the majority of them
appear to have misused the internet.

To some extent, people were done up and vexed with internet but due to the ensconsment
of cellular technology all gaps have been bridged for the destruction of youth. The
telecommunication companies in our country have been inclined towards introducing
new and attractive packages for youth like Mobilink (ladies first, happy hours), Warid
(zem series), Ufone (public demand, prepay life panch ka pandra, u circle) Telenor
(talkshawk Aone, djuice) and Zong’s life package.

The question arises why these companies are introducing these packages without the
social mobilization to check the mindset of the youth. Are they trying to facilitate the
common man or only youth? I think except on very urgent occasions ordinarily no one
would like to talk after midnight. All necessary and normal interactions can be dealt with
during daytime but the companies offer the packages that start after end of family or
business communication. My feeling is that these packages are more likely to spoil and
ravage our youth than to do anything else.

In our youth segment the majority is student community that is spell bounded by these
packages. They are losing the essence of their profession/studies. They are derailing and
deviating themselves. They are getting away from their goals, destinies and motives.
Their minds are becoming stagnant and static. Creativity and innovation is blocked by the
consistent telephonic conversations spread over the whole of night. They are losing their
interest towards the interactions and sociality. Alienation is increasing within small
community or groups of people. In one room four roommates are strangers to one
another. They never try to tie up the relation because they don’t have a pinch of time.

By talking whole night with opposite sex, they are getting psychologically weak and
pressured. There are many other physical distortions also arising due to spending the
precious time which is needed compulsory rest, relaxation, relief and mental health. Due
to spending whole nights the absenteeism is skyrocketing in every profession. They are
going far and far away from the hold of families. They tell lies and have false
communication with their parents.

They are betraying the decisions, trust and expectations of their parents. They are
traveling towards the lone parent family system in which one is not accountable to
anyone and he is the only decision maker. Such kind of behavior is leading towards the
social fragmentation and terrible decline of moral values in which respect is core one.
They are crossing the restraints and limitations, very essential for the well integrated
society. Due to the bogus projection of the companies their effectiveness and
determination is diminishing if we put a furtive glimpse on the chart of protests and
rallies conducted against the negative policies, the ratio of youth’ contribution is at minor
level and seems vanished because they have engrossed in making affairs and spending
their potential and energy to locate the suitable packages.

Their mental approach is revolving around sexual satisfaction. Other emotions and
sentiments are pushed oblivion, there are forgetting that there are so many matters that
need their kind attention. They have obsessed devoid of manners and healthy attitude to
other requisites and needs. It is obliterating the mental capacity and concentration of the
youth like plague.
There is a critical and pathetic state prevailing over the sky of our nation. The whole
nation is passing through the chaos, disturbance and mental incapacitation. We are not
realizing that what is worth of our youth? That’s why we ourselves are paving the way
for our youth towards the devastation and shoving them into fire.

The mobile companies have every right to work out innovative packages offering greater
value of money to their customers. But they should not making profits by compromising
on the interests of the young generation.
 Literature Review

December 16, 2008

Cell Phones and Pakistani Youth

By Babar Bhatti

Cell phones nowadays have become symbol of independence – for our youth that
mobile phone helps them to develop their own language and social groups away from the
prying eyes of their parents. It has become Status Symbol or what people say Fashion
statement - It is a way that people wear their phone in a style, color, cost and features
and feel that a phone can enhance their looks. Although mobile phones have long been a
part of the business community, they are quietly becoming entrenched in personal lives.
Cell phones play a crucial role in relationships among a group of young people, Mobile
phones also influence the trend toward relaxing the traditional amount of contact
permitted before marriage. Cell phone is also in the use of people who are working 24/7
environment and always remain on the go.

It is privacy and not mobility that matters. Most youth have cell phone conversations in
their bedroom. Lets have a look on few needs of new breed (Youth) that have been
forcing them to get addicted to this cell phone night packages, the need to make their
identity and to build “social and emotional ties”. The shrinking size of present day
families explain why the youth today feel the need to communicate with virtual brothers
and sisters.

Youngsters have been using cell phones to form friendships and social groups away from
their families, feeling that these phones give them privacy that they would not otherwise
have. As cell phone use becomes even more widespread, communication between parents
and their kids may become even more impersonal.

The saying “romance is in the air” appears to be true. In today’s world, it is mobile
phones which are carrying the messages of love. Youngsters are using mobile phones to
maintain personal and romantic relationships.

Grabbing our new generation, these free night packages services provided by our Cellular
Companies have become a great pleasure/encouragement to people like who aren’t
responsible at all, it seems they are announced to spoil the future of our youth, just give it
a thought which kind a people avail these services and what they do? Whole night they
spent in useless, ungraceful conversation it’s all beyond morals.
The immature generation has become addicted to avail these kind a packages. These kind
portable platform providers are taking away our youth from
family/Cultural/Traditional/Religious values, they don’t even care about their health
though they know how these RF radiation would be harmful as for as continuous use is
concerned.

The Cellular Companies should make some standards so they can provide such services
which can be of use to make the youths future bright and should consider the social
impact before announcing any such service, they should offer some M-Learning (Mobile
Learning) services they are behind the race of announcing free night packages, low rates
for one special number.

No doubt most of the parents are equally responsible for this attitude in our new
generation, in previous era what kind of environment we have had at homes —-sitting
together in TV-Lounges , One time/place to sit and eat together no friends/outings in late
night, but this fast life where people are to avail luxurious lifestyle parents themselves
arrange separate rooms equipped with individual TV, personal Computer with high speed
Internet connection and a latest model of any famous brand of Mobile handset though its
of no use to them at around certain age , yup parents are equally responsible they should
be responsible they should keep eye on their children’s activities, what kind a friends
they are making how they are progressing academically how they are spending time.

The youth is less responsible than their parents is what I think, they are availing what
they have in their access and they have no one over them to restrict or make them
understand what is good to go for and what is wrong to avail. The generation gap
between parents and children’s is not the main issue because its more than the gap, its
about basics of raising good children. True that bad habits or friendships existed before
this direct and private source of communication too but its all starts right from your basic
education that our youth is getting at Home. So the message goes to parents: make your
kids to avail good morals and talk to them on every matter to give them better
understandings of what is right and what is wrong.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The Youth Culture And Cell Phones

By Rommel Kenneth

Cell phones are becoming to today’s youth what rock and roll was to the
youth in the 1960’s. Approximately 80% of all teenagers have cell phones
worldwide, and have developed their own language and social groups away from
the prying eyes of their parents.

In Pakistan, teenagers are obsessed with their cell phones. Some experts estimate
that 76% of all Pakistani children will have cell phones by the time they reach high
school. One study shows that these kids spent between 90 and 125 minutes every
day on their phones, using them to read books, chat with friends, surf the Net, or
listen to music.
Many experts suggest that these youngsters are using these cell phones for security,
as the amount of usage went up with children that were having problems at home.

Most of the children have been using cell phones to form friendships and social
groups away from their families, feeling that these phones ensured them privacy
that they would not otherwise have. While some children still talk to their parents,
many more prefer to communicate with them through text messaging so that the
children do not have to answer any questions that they do not want to. This also
creates the problem of children misunderstanding their parent’s mood because
plain text messaging does not show the difference between sarcasm and anger. As
cell phone use becomes even more widespread (some experts estimate that by
2010, 81% of Pakistani between the ages of 5 and 24 will own a cell phone),
communication between parents and their kids may become even more impersonal.

Another problem with today’s kids being obsessed with cell phones is the fact that
some children admit to texting while they are driving. While some states have
outlawed talking on a cell phone while being behind the wheel, it may be interesting to
see how the government deals with the act of sending messages while driving. After all,
the driver can keep the phone out of sight as he text messages.

A serious issue concerning youth and cell phones came to light in a survey of college
students. Of 305 of these students, 40% of cell phone users admitted that they walked
somewhere after dark that they would have never went before they had their cell phones.
¾ of these students admitted that they felt safer and more secure because of these
devices. In reality, experts agree that these students are more vulnerable because they are
less likely to be paying attention to their surroundings as many of these cell phones users
also admitted into walking in front of traffic while talking.

Other countries are also reporting other serious issues related to young people and cell
phone use. In Pakistan, young women had visited a dating site and several had unwanted
sexual relations with the men that contacted them.

As more young people have access to cell phones, they may have to learn that as with
everything in life there is a price to pay. Hopefully for some of these kids, the price is not
too high.
 Methodology

The research methodology chosen for this research is Descriptive method. We first
collected the facts and data on youth and mobile phones. Actually we have focused on the
impacts of mobile phone on our youth. With the help of survey we came to know that
which gender and age is the most affected one. We also have gathered other such related
information, using descriptive method, to test our hypotheses. For this we conducted
primary and secondary information through questionnaires, observation, magazines and
internet. The descriptive method can only measure what already exists.

The Causal comparative method investigates a cause-effect relationship of an

independent variable on a dependent variable. To bring our research into focus we related
the causes and effects of the problem involved.

Data Collection Methods

Data collection and analysis was also another major part of our research. We gathered
information through primary and secondary data. For primary data, we collected
information through questionnaires. For secondary data, we collected information
through the internet and magazines.

Using Secondary Data

To answer research problem primary data was supported by secondary data. For
secondary data we visited different website, articles, reports & magazines.
 Analysis of Empirical Studies & Data

Target population
For this research our target population was common citizens of Karachi.

Geographical area
We have visited various parts of Karachi. The areas which we mainly targeted in our research
are, Defense View, Akhtar Colony, Kashmir colony, Koranghi, Defence Phase-5, and Gulistan-
e-Jouhar.

Sample size
We have taken a sample size of 60.

Sampling procedure 7
For the purpose of this research we have chosen the non-random sampling procedure. It
was taken because our target population did not have equal probability of being selected.

Sampling method
The method of sampling used in this research project is the STRATIFIED RANDOM
SAMPLING method. We have chosen this method because the people whom we felt
would contribute in a positive way towards our research. We personally had the
questionnaires filled with the relevant categories in our research. This method o f
sampling was the most appropriate for our research project.
 Analysis of Primary Data
Is mobile phone necessary for every body?

(1) Yes
(2) No

Frequency Percentage
60 100
Yes 43 71%
No 17 29%
Why do you use mobile phone?

(1) For organizing everyday life

(2) Just for a fashion

Frequency Percentage
60 100
For organizing everyday life 55 92%
Just for a fashion 05 08%
Which age is most affected?

(1) Teenagers

(2) 20-25

(3) more than 25

frequency Percentage
60 100%
Teenagers 35 59%
20-25 15 25%
More than 25 10 16%
Which gender is active user of mobile?

(1) Male

(2) Female
Frequency Percentage
60 100%
Male 28 47%
female 32 53%
 What made students interested to use the mobile

(1) To be in touch with family members

(2) Low Call/ SMS rates

Frequency Percentage
60 100%
To be in touch with family members 48 80%
Low Call/ SMS rates 12 20%
Do you think, most of our youth is wasting time on mobile by using text messaging?

(1) Yes

(2) No

frequency Percentage
60 100%
Yes 53 88%
No 07 12%
Does mobile affect culture?
(1) Yes

(2) No

Frequency Percentage
60 100%
Yes 49 82%
No 11 18%
Has the mobile phone improved family ties?

(1) Yes

(2) No

Frequency percentage
60 100%
Yes 24 40%
No 36 60%
Having a mobile phone gives you a better social life?

(1) Yes

(2) No

Frequency Percentage
60 100%
Yes 39 65%
No 21 35%
Are you dependent on mobile?

(1) Yes

(2) No

Frequency Percentage
60 100%
Yes 43 72%
No 17 28%
Has Cell Phone made your life more convenient?

(1) Yes

(2) No

Frequency Percentage
60 100%
Yes 52 87%
No 8 13%
Do you agree from the statement, that mobile is considered symbol of modernism?
(1) Yes

(2) No
 Frequency Percentage
60 100%
Yes 55 92%
No 05 08%

Recommendations
After the analysis of primary resources, the results which we have obtained are
clearly showing that huge number of people in our society including, Teenagers,
Pre-teenagers and most probably the youth of Pakistan include males and females
are the active users of mobile phones and other electronic devices. We have some
recommendations for the parents that they must take serious decisions to make
their children safe from the effects of these devices.

CONCLUSION
According to the data gathered through survey and on the basis of analytical study
of the project it may be deducted that Cell Phones are necessary for every body.
Most of the teenagers use cell phones just for chatting with group of friends, family
members. By studying the different articles and reports we came to know that
mobile phones have so many disadvantages for teens and pre-teens.

We ourselves have also got so many things from this report. We think, mobile
phones are necessary but these devices must not be given to the teen and pre-teens.
When we were surveying from the different parts of Karachi we had seen cell
phones and other electronic devices in the hands of the children (mp3 players, cell
phones, I-mate, I-pod etc) having the age 11 to 13.