It is interesting how much cell phones have become a symbol of economic status in Nigeria, because here everyone has one. It is very rare that you find someone above the age of 13 who does not have a cell phone in America. I like how they call cell phones "the fire that consumes money" because it is so true! Cell phones in Nigeria have both become a "social fire" meaning everyone wants one to have the upper social hand, but also it is a "fire" that is pulling people down by consuming money that could definitely be better spent somewhere else.
This article shows the importance of perceived social status within communities. Although the Nigerian people do not have the money to spend frivolously on cell phones, they do so to project themselves as being part of a higher class system. I think it is important to note that how society views you has important effects on the spending behaviors of individuals and can cause bad spending habits regardless of the consequences.
Another important theme of the article is the use of cellular phones in relationships, especially among the Nigerian youth. The article talks about how the youth have began to text friends and family and use abbreviations to cut down on text message costs. However due to societal norms if a person only text a friend or family member instead of actually calling them it is seen as an insult. This could be partially blamed for the high costs of cell phones in Nigeria.
ReplyDelete