| |
The mobile internet - children's use of the internet on handheld devices
Design will always be subverted. That is the way that humanity and its technologies progress, if we are to accept this particularly dialectical theory. |
When we consider the mobile phone, the phenomenon of "happy slapping" is a direct result of the incorporation of a digital camera into telephones. The technology is not at fault although making it available to at best unaware and at worst nasty individuals may well be somebody's fault, the parents' perhaps. The dilemma of the availability of technology is a part of a long standing debate which opposes freedom and accountability.
We have argued before that to enjoy the freedom afforded by technology we need to be informed and held responsible for our actions.
The next step for mobile telephony is the greater availability of the internet through the handsets. Although the web has been available for some time technological advances in this area will have profound effects. We can mention the following:
- the development of the iPhone with a browser that gives a high quality browsing experience (when we compare it to an automatic rendering of pages through earlier versions of mobile browsers)
- the development of operating systems outside of phone manufacture, for example the adoption of Windows Mobile, Google's Android and the availability of a greater range of higher performance mobile browsers (Opera Mini, for example)
- the development of Adobe Flash on mobile platforms
- the development of mobile friendly site design (especially of social networking sites such as Facebook)
- data download plans which will greatly reduce the price of internet connection on mobiles.
Microblogging such as Twitter is already widely available through mobiles as is e-mail, where the BlackBerry handset as long (in internet terms) been synonymous with mobile messaging. This kind of application can only gain in popularity as the cost of data transfer lowers. In the UK, for example Apple's iPhone is available with a data transfer package and its design and its brand image make it highly desirable particularly for well-heeled youth. We also read of a cheaper alternative which is being called the "Facebook phone" from operator 3 which is clearly aimed at young people. Its subscription plan of about EUR 18 per month includes the phone and unlimited Facebook and Skype calls, as well as access to Windows Live Messenger and up to 1GB a month of web access, as well a a telephone package.
How will this be reflected with our children's use of mobiles? It has been estimated that soon in the US more teenagers will be accessing the internet through their mobiles than through a desktop. At the same time, a recent study pointed out that "the mobile internet audience has a higher concentration of younger users than PC-based internet; 25% of mobile internet consumers are aged 15-24 compared to 16% for PC-based consumers. Whilst, 23% of the PC-based internet population is 55+, only 12% of the mobile Internet audience is." The challenges we will face as far as the mobile internet is concerned will be particularly focused on the younger members of society.
The new frontier of the mobile internet has already led to predictions that the botnet phenomenon will move to use this new technology, presenting new threats. There is a hope that being forewarned is being forearmed and we can look forward to being handed equipment with safety built-in.
The debate as to how much operators will be able to control what is made available to young people has already opened. As we know, a technical response to what is a human problem will not suffice. It is inevitably a matter of media literacy which is where the Insafe network comes in.
So, as you're stuffing your Christmas stocking with new generation mobile phones, let us wish you a safe-mobile-surfing 2009.
The next Insafe newsletter will be published in February when we will be looking at preparations for Safer Internet Day 2009. Happy New Year!
| Author: |
Chris Jenkins, Insafe |
| Published: |
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2008 |
| Last changed: |
Monday, 6 Apr 2009 |
|
|
