The Impact of Cell Phone Use on Social Networking and Development Among College Students

The American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences Journal
(The AABSS Journal, 2011, Volume 15)

THE IMPACT OF CELL PHONE USE ON
SOCIAL NETWORKING AND
DEVELOPMENT AMONG COLLEGE
STUDENTS
~

Mikiyasu Hakoama & Shotaro Hakoyama
Central Michigan University
989-774-3743
Abstract

Cell phones have become increasingly popular in recent years. While people of various ages find cell phones convenient and useful, younger generations tend to appreciate them more and be more dependent on them. Based on a survey conducted in a midsize, Midwestern university, college students’ cell phone use was examined. The survey consisted of 44 questions that dealt with various aspects of cell phone use, such as cell phone ownerships, time spent for cell phone calls, monthly cell phone bills, communication networks, text messaging, and cell phone dependency. The survey results indicated that, of the 501 responses, 99% owned cell phones and nearly 90% of them have had cell phones for more than three years. The results also showed significant gender differences in several aspects of cell phone use. Multiple interpretations of the findings are discussed.
Key Words: mobile, dependency, social, network, technology

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The American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences Journal
(The AABSS Journal, 2011, Volume 15)

Introduction
Cell Phone Popularity
The cell phone is one of the most rapidly growing new technologies in the world
(Rebello, 2010). In 2001, cell phone subscriptions were less than a billion worldwide with the majority of the subscriptions from the developed countries. At the end of 2010, however, cell phone subscriptions had reached five billion worldwide with subscriptions from developing countries outnumbering that of the developed countries
(Kelly, 2009; Rebello 2010).
Cell phones have become quite popular in a short time among the younger generations. A study in Norway, for example, reported that almost 100% of 16 yearolds owned a cell phone in 2001 while less than

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