Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2018)

Tanzanian Adolescents in the Digital Age of Cell Phones and the Internet: Access, Use and Risks

https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v7i1.58
hezron onditi

Corresponding Author(s) : hezron onditi

hezron.onditi@duce.ac.tz

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 7 No. 1 (2018)

Abstract

This study explored cell phones and internet access, use, and potential risks among
Tanzanian secondary school adolescents. A total of 778 students aged 14-18 in Form I
to Form IV responded to a self-report questionnaire, and a subset of 20 participants
participated in semi-structured interviews. Results revealed a remarkable uptake of cell
phones and internet technologies among Tanzanian adolescents. In particular, whereas
about 50% of the students reported to own cell phones (nearly 60% own simcards), 76%
admitted using cell phones at home, and 86% reported to connect to the Internet.
Results showed that male and older adolescents seem to have high level of access
compared to female and younger adolescents. It was further revealed that nearly 50%
of female adolescents who own cell phones reported to hide them from parents.
Adolescents reported to use cell phones and the Internet for socializing, academic and
entertainment purposes. Despite the benefits, adolescents reported to have
experienced online violence and risks including cyberbullying and online sexual
exploitation. Results provide important information for developing policy on cell
phones, the Internet, and social media use and access among Tanzanian children and
youth. In particular, findings suggest for culturally and developmentally appropriate
education and intervention programs, which include global, regional, and national
partners, and that keep up with the changes in the digital world.

Keywords

adolescence cell phones cyberbullying online sexual exploitation ICT
Tanzanian Adolescents in the Digital Age of Cell Phones and the Internet: Access, Use and Risks. (2020). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 7(1). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v7i1.58
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Allen, J. P. & E. L. Loeb. 2015. The Autonomy?Connection Challenge in Adolescent–Peer
  2. Relationships. Child Development Perspectives, 9(2): 101–105.
  3. Arnett, J. 1992. Reckless Behavior in Adolescence: A Developmental Perspective. Developmental
  4. Review, 12: 339–373.
  5. Bauman, S. 2012. Cyberbullying in the United States. In Q. Li., D. Cross & P. K. Smith (eds.).
  6. Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research from International Perspectives, (pp.143–179). West
  7. Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
  8. Best, J. W. & Khan, J. K. 2006. Research in Education. Boston: Pearson.
  9. Bonanno, R. A. & S. Hymel. 2013. Cyberbullying and Internalizing Difficulties: Above and Beyond
  10. Traditional Forms of Bullying. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42: 685–697.
  11. Corcoran, L., I. Connolly & M. O’Moore. 2012. Cyberbullying in Irish Schools: An Investigation of
  12. Personality and Self-Concept. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 33: 153–165.
  13. Creswell, J. W. 2009. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Los
  14. Angeles: Sage Publications, Inc.
  15. Cross, D., Q. Li, P. K. Smith & H. Monks. 2012. Understanding and Preventing Cyberbullying. Where
  16. Have We Been and Where Should We Be Going? In Q. Li., D. Cross & P. Smith (eds.). Cyberbullying
  17. in the Global Playground: Research from International Perspectives, (pp. 287–305). West Sussex: John
  18. Wiley & Sons.
  19. Davis, M. R. 2012. Facebook Considers Access for 13-and-Younger Crowd. Education Week, 13.
  20. <http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/06/13/35facebook.h31.html?qs=Facebook>.
  21. Holfeld, B., & M. Grabe, 2012. An Examination of the History, Prevalence, Characteristics, and
  22. Reporting of Cyberbullying in the United States. In Q. Li., D. Cross & P. K. Smith (eds.).
  23. Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research from International Perspectives, (pp. 117–142). West
  24. Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
  25. Kafyulilo, A. C. 2012. Access, Use and Perceptions of Teachers and Students Towards Mobile Phones as
  26. a Tool for Teaching and Learning in Tanzania. Education Information and Technology. 19: 115–127.
  27. Kowalski, R, M., G, W. Giumetti, A, N. Schroeder & M, R. Lattanner. 2014. Bullying in the Digital
  28. Age: A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Cyberbullying Research Among Youth. Psychological
  29. Bulletin, 140(4): 1073–1137.
  30. Kowalski, R, M., Morgan, C, A & Limber, S, P. 2012. Traditional Bullying as a Potential Warning Sign
  31. of Cyberbullying. School Psychology International, 33(5), 505–519.
  32. Kraft, E. 2006. Cyberbullying: A Worldwide Trend of Misusing Technology to Harass Others. WIT
  33. Transactions on Information and Communication Technologies, 36: 155–166.
  34. Law, D. M. 2009. Social Responsibility on the Internet: A Socio-Ecological Approach to Online Aggression
  35. Doctoral Thesis, University of British Columbia, Canada.
  36. Law, D. M., J. D. Shapka & B. F. Olson. 2010. To Control or Not to Control? Parenting Behaviours
  37. and Adolescent Online Aggression. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(6): 1651–1656.
  38. Lenhart, A. 2012. Teens, Smartphones & Texting. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life
  39. Project. Retrieved on November 10. 2014 from http://pewthe Internet.org/reports/2012/teensand-smartphones.aspx
  40. Lenhart, A., K. Purcell, A. Smith & K. Zickuhr. 2010. Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among
  41. Teens and Young Adults. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from
  42. http://www.pewthe Internet.org/2010/02/03/social-media-and-young-adults/
  43. Li, Q. 2006. Cyberbullying in Schools: A Research of Gender Differences. School Psychology
  44. International, 27(2): 157–170.
  45. Livingstone, S & P. K. Smith. 2014. Annual Research Review: Harms Experienced by Child Users of
  46. Online and Mobile Technologies: The Nature, Prevalence and Management of Sexual and
  47. Aggressive Risks in the Digital Age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(6): 635–654
  48. Mathison, S. 1988. Why Triangulate? American Educational Research, 17(2): 13–17.
  49. Mungy, I. P. M. 2014, (September). Interview by H. Z. Onditi. The Use of Mobile Phones and Internet
  50. in Tanzania. Manager Corporate Communications, Tanzania Communication Regulatory
  51. Authority (TCRA), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  52. Nastasi, B. K. 1999. Audiovisual Methods in Ethnography. in J. J. Schensul & M. D. Lecompte (eds.),
  53. Ethnographer’s Toolkit: Book 4. Enhanced Ethnographic Methods: Audiovisual Techniques, Focused
  54. Group Interviews, and Elicitation Techniques (pp. 1 – 50). Walnut Creek, CA7 Altamira Press.
  55. O'Keeffe, G. S. & K. Clarke-Pearson. 2011. The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and
  56. Families. Pediatrics, 127: 800–804.
  57. Olumide, A. O., P. Adams & O. K. Amodu. 2015. International Note: Awareness and Context of CyberHarassment Among Secondary School Students in Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Adolescence, 39:
  58. –14.
  59. Olumide, A. O., P. Adams & O. K. Amodu. 2016. Prevalence and Correlates of the Perpetration of
  60. Cyberbullying Among In-School Adolescents in Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of
  61. Adolescent Medicine and Health. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2015-0009
  62. Onditi, H. Z. & J. D. Shapka. 2016, March. Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization in Tanzanian
  63. Secondary Schools: The Role of Age, Gender, Access to Technology, and Social Assertiveness.
  64. Presented at the Conference of Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MA, USA.
  65. Onditi, H. Z. 2017. Cyberbullying in Tanzania: Adolescents’ Experiences and the Psychosocial Factors
  66. Influencing Coping Strategies. Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia, Canada.
  67. O'Neill, B & T. Dinh. 2015. Mobile Technologies and the Incidence of Cyberbullying in Seven
  68. European Countries: Findings from Net Children Go Mobile. Societies, 5: 384–398.
  69. Patchin, J. W & S. Hinduja. 2006. Bullies Move Beyond the Schoolyard a Preliminary Look at
  70. Cyberbullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4(2): 148–169.
  71. Patchin, J. W & S. Hinduja. 2010. Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem. Journal of School Health, 80(12):
  72. –621.
  73. Rachoene, M & T. Oyedemi. 2015. From Self-Expression to Social Aggression: Cyberbullying Culture
  74. Among South African Youth on Facebook. South African Journal for Communication Theory and
  75. Research, 41(3): 302–319.
  76. Runions, K. C. 2013. Toward a Conceptual Model of Motive and Self-Control in Cyber-Aggression:
  77. Rage, Revenge, Reward, and Recreation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42: 751–771.
  78. Shapka, J. D. 2014. Adolescent Socialization Via the Internet: An Exploration of the Cognitive and
  79. Contextual Correlates of Online Risk Behavior. Research Proposal for Vancouver School Board.
  80. Shapka, J. D., H. Z. Onditi, N. Lapidot & B. J. Collie. 2017. Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization
  81. Within a Cross Cultural Context: A Study of Canadian and a Tanzanian Adolescents. Child
  82. Development, 1–11. doi:10.1111/cdev.12829.
  83. Smith, D. M. 2015. Cyberbullying in South African and American Schools: A Legal Comparative
  84. Study. South African Journal of Education, 35(2): 1–11.
  85. Smith, P., J. Mahdavi, M. Carvalho, S. Fisher, S. Russell, & N. Tippett. 2008. Cyberbullying: Its
  86. Nature and Impact in Secondary School Pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49:
  87. –385.
  88. Smith, T. 2012, January. Cyberbullying: A World-Wide Problem. Retrieved from http://www.
  89. cbronline.com/news/cyberbullying-a-worldwide-problem-160112
  90. Steinberg, L. 1988. Reciprocal Relation Between Parent-Child Distance and Pubertal Maturation.
  91. Developmental Psychology, 24(1): 122–128.
  92. Sticca, F & S. Perren. 2013. Is Cyberbullying Worse Than Traditional Bullying? Examining the
  93. Differential Roles of Medium, Publicity, and Anonymity for the Perceived Severity of Bullying.
  94. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42: 739–750.
  95. Tippett, N & K. Kwak. 2012. Cyberbullying in South Korea. In Q. Li., D. Cross & P. K. Smith (eds.).
  96. Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research From International Perspectives, (pp. 202–219). West
  97. Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
  98. Tokunaga, R. S. 2010. Following You Home from School: A Critical Review and Synthesis of Research
  99. on Cyberbullying Victimization. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(3): 277–287.
  100. Tsitsika, A., M. Janikian, S. Wójcik, K. Makaruk, E. Tzavela, C Tzavara, ... & C. Richardson. 2015.
  101. Cyberbullying Victimization Prevalence and Associations with Internalizing and Externalizing
  102. Problems Among Adolescents in Six European Countries. Computers in Human Behavior, 51: 1–7.
  103. United Republic of Tanzania (URT). 2015. The Cybercrime Act of 2015. Dar es Salaam: Government
  104. Printer.
  105. Valkenburg, P. M & J. Peter. 2011. Online Communication Among Adolescents: An Integrated Model
  106. of Its Attraction, Opportunities, and Risks. Journal of Adolescents Health, 48, 121–127.
  107. Varjas, K., B. K. Natstasi, R. B. Moore & A. Jayasena. 2005. Using Ethnographic Methods for
  108. Development of Culture-Specific Interventions. Journal of School Psychology, 43: 241–258.
  109. Wolak, J., M. Liberatore & B. N. Levine. 2013. Measuring a Year of Child Pornography Trafficking by
  110. U.S. Computers on a Peer-To-Peer Network. Child Abuse Negl. 38(2): 347–56. doi:10. 1016/
  111. j.chiabu.2013.10.018.
Read More
Author biographies is not available.

How to Cite

Tanzanian Adolescents in the Digital Age of Cell Phones and the Internet: Access, Use and Risks. (2020). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 7(1). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v7i1.58
Download

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.