Receiving a call on his mobile phone during class poses little risk for 14-year-old Nader, who like many other students, daily outsmarts teachers by switching phone ringers to vibrate mode. But since the eighth grader is clearly aware of his school's policy against the use of mobiles during school hours, he is extra cautious for fear of having his phone confiscated.
"It's not easy for me to answer a call when I'm in class, so I can only say a few quick words while pretending to pick something up from the floor, or search my bag for a book," explained Nader, who saw no harm in his trickery.
"All the students who risk using their phones in school depend on the vibrate mode since it's the easiest way to avoid getting caught by a teacher," the youth added, stressing that owning a mobile was necessary for him to keep in touch with his parents.
Nowadays, however, it seems that what many of their parents intended to be a security tool for their children has become a fashion accessory among many Jordanian teen socialites. A showcase of such privileged young mobile owners chattering away into their phones can easily be witnessed outside some of the more popular student hotspots around western Amman at the weekend.
But while most of today's youth insist their mobiles only serve to reassure their parents of their whereabouts, other teens see their mobiles as an attractive status symbol that gives them individuality and confidence.
"My parents bought me a mobile last year because they felt better knowing they could reach me whenever they wanted to. Although I don't have the latest mobile brand, I definitely wouldn't mind if my family were to buy me a new one, that would be cool," said Hassan, another eighth grade student from one of Amman's private schools.
The youth said that while most of his friends own mobiles, only few are lucky enough to afford changing their phones for newer models. Reactions similar to Hassan's are no surprise to Ayman Madi, who has been involved in the mobile business for nearly five years.
Madi recently told the Jordan Times that children, sometimes as young as six or seven years, have frequented his shop with their parents in search of a mobile. “But it's usually students around 13 or 14 years old who come to buy what they call a 'cool' looking mobile with a flashy bright color. Their choices however are restricted by price ranges and the amount their parents are willing to pay," explained Madi, noting that price was not an issue for children from wealthy families.
Meanwhile outside the mobile store, three young boys whizzed by on their skateboards. The third one, with a cellular phone mashed firmly against his ear lagged behind as he struggled to catch up with his friends while speaking on the phone.
However, not everyone seems to have cast a critical eye on youth fascination with mobile phones. British anti-smoking activists suggest that mobile phones successfully compete with cigarettes to meet certain important needs of teenagers.
An article published last November in the British Medical Journal points out that teens are beginning to find favor in the attractive image of high tech mobiles phones rather than the simple cigarette, regarded as "old technology," as a tool that offers adult style and street credibility.
Although the theory has yet to be confirmed, British figures showed that the proportion of 15-year old smokers dropped from 32 percent in 1996 to 25 percent in 2000, while mobile phone ownership among 15-17 year-olds rose dramatically to reach 70 percent.
For Jordanian businessman Emad Daher, the reaction of teens to mobiles should not come as a surprise to adults who themselves indulged in cellular phones when they first came out. In fact, the image surrounding cell phone use is persuasive in countries as far away as Chile. Santiago police last year were reported to have apprehended 45 drivers using their mobiles while driving.
Policemen, however, were astonished to find that 15 of the 45 drivers were pretending to talk on plastic imitation phones.
Toddlers too, are being drawn to the world of mobile phones through inexpensive, popular toy phone imitations that are available in supermarkets around the country. One man, who took his son shopping for a suit before the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, was stunned when the seven-year-old Obada nagged him for the suit which had a toy mobile phone tucked in the jacket pocket. "I couldn't believe it," said Abu Obada, "my son made such a big fuss in the store until I bought him the suit. It was also a size too small for him, but that didn't matter to him."
But for 14-year-old Amer, teen mobile owners are judged unfairly by some of their elders, especially when both parent and child are in full agreement about the responsibilities that come with owning a mobile.
"Most students use the pre-paid card system simply because it's easier for both us and our parents," he casually explained, "easier for parents since they wouldn't be stuck with an expensive bill and easier for us because then we wouldn't get screamed at." — ( Jordan Times )
By Dalya Dajani
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
