Analyzing the impact of mobile technology on mobile-centric youth in South Africa

Abstract

Our research documents the successful development of a system for stakeholders in the low-income urban environment, to facilitate the dissemination of information through enhanced mobile technology. The research project took place in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Before beginning the formal study we entered the environment to better understand mobile technology practices amongst low-income urban teenagers and how we could supplement these practices by providing a means of media dissemination to the relevant stakeholders in the environment. We allied ourselves with two local stakeholders, the Ikamva Youth NGO and the Nazeema Isaacs local library staff. These organizations would provide us with access to low-income urban teenagers, and they were interested in adopting alternative technology to disseminate media to these youth.