Nigeria: The Downside of SmartPhones

The Nokia 3310 was the high point of digital technology in 2000. There were quite a number of reasons for this, but one stood out-it was a mobile phone. It was the dawn of the GSM revolution in Nigeria, and it was a status symbol to have any mobile phone at all. Fourteen years down the line, things have changed radically. The Nokia 3310 and its counterparts have been replaced by the smartphone movement; phones that don't just do everything, but let you do everything. Despite their mega popularity, smartphones do have a downside. Here are some reasons why:

Cost

Topping the list of smartphone disadvantages is the sky rocketing price tags. Even the cheapest smart phones are not a walk in the park. And the best of them could pay some rents for a year. Despite our love for technology, for a nation that has 60% of its citizens living below poverty line, it is no wonder that quite a number of people would think twice about purchasing a smartphone

Distractions

Before the GSM revolution, calls were mostly scheduled. As mobile phones became more common place, calls were shorter because of high tariffs. But with smart phones, there is a beep nearly every second of the day; pings, emails, whatsapp messages, alarms, skype requests... the list goes on and on. Now, more than ever before, technology is helping people with their daily activities. But on the other hand, never in human history have so large a number of people been so easily distracted from their daily lives because of technology.

Security

There is practically nothing you can't do on your smart phone. This should be a good thing right? Well, not always. A stolen smart phone could mean that someone else has access to your bank accounts, personal notes, business ideas, etc. Another issue of insecurity when it comes to smart phones is their propensity to attract thieves.

Ruggedness

There aren't many smart phones that can fall to the ground and resurrect without incidence. Painfully, many Nigerians go about with broken screens from fragile phones.