By tying individuals toa larger community, they can challenge authority, such as that of the government or of the media, and they can increase the number of viewpoints available to shape public opinion" (Hanson, 2007, p. 66). In other words, mobile phone can assist in solidifying democracy around the world.However, cell phone usage also has undesirable psychological and sociological effects on society.
Firstly, excessive cell phone usage interferes with traditional forms of social interaction, and affects people's ability to develop the kind of complex social skills necessary in life. Many advanced forms of communication, such as mobile texting, are replacing old methods of communication, but our society is still dominated by people to people interactions. Majority of university education is still centred on person to person interaction, and same can be said for most working environments.If a person does not develop complex social skills required in work places and other ocial settings, their chances of success in real life diminishes rapidly. Secondly, excessive cell phone text messaging results in a distortion of the traditional English language.
Majority of adolescents around the world are using texting service, and "adolescents have become both the driving force behind and at the same time slaves of a growing text messaging culture" (Nurullah, 2009, p. 2). There is a fear that heavy use of cell phone and its SMS feature could lead to decline in literacy, and this is a threat to society's cultural values (Goggin, 2006, p. 5). Adolescents are developing a new form of abbreviated English suitable for text messaging purposes but below acceptable standards for any other application, a worrisome trend.
According to Judith Gillespie, the development manager at the Scottish Parent Teacher council, the threat of illiteracy is real: "There must be rigorous efforts from all quarters of the education system to stamp out the use of texting as a form of written language as far as English study is concerned... You would be shocked at the numbers of senior secondary pupils who
