A Study on How the Usage of Mobile Phones Affects the Human Social Interactions in Different Ages

Abstract

Mobile phones (MPs) have become staple and common equipment today. At present society The main objective of this study is to investigate in what ways the usage of MPs affects the human social interactions in different ages. Accidental sample was selected including 500 people from the Colombo district and Galle district (250 people from each) according to 4 age groups: 16-19, 20-30, and 31-45 and above 46. Semi structured interviews and observation were used for data collection during the period from of December 2015 to April 2016. Data had been analyzed using MS Excel application. Findings revealed that MPs are being used by all age groups for communication and other purposes and voice call was common for all ages. MPs are being used for log in to social media, surfing internet, e-mailing and texting by both 16-19 and 20-30 age groups. Minority of the people of age group 31-45 were using MPs not for texting but for voice calls. Majority people of the age group above 46 were using MP only for incoming calls. Fewer of them were using MPs for texting and surfing internet. Moreover, the purposes of using MPs and the type of MPs were depending on the financial status and education level of the users. More than 75% people of the sample were using smart phones. Many of the 16-19 and 20-30 age groups were using MP for association with peers. Among them there were 35 percentage of students and working people who were using MPs for affinity with relations. The age group 31-45 was using MPs for finding out of their children and relations. Majority of the age group above 46 were using MPs to have information from relations and closed ones. Conclusion of the study is that each age group was using MPs to amplify of their social interactions and that it has a negative effect on face to face communication. At the same time who reveals that the usage of MPs has multiplied social interaction than the period of MPs were rare.