Abstract

This paper qualitatively investigated the mobile phone calling and texting patterns among youth in Pakistan. Initially, the data was gathered from seventy seven (n=77) college students aged 17-21 years, who completed twenty four hours mobile phone communication diaries. Completed communication diaries were followed by twenty three in-depth interviews with the college students to collect detailed background information. Study results revealed congruity of SMS and calling patterns among male and female youth. This research discovered that the majority of youth is extremely high user, fond of texting and low user of voice calls. This research unfolded that the youth do most of the mobile phones communications within their age group, communicate in both positive and negative ways. However, majority of mobile phone communications among youth could be categorized as problematic with reference to the place, time, and purpose. The main motivation of high and problematic use among youth is very low priced prepaid packages offered by the telecom operators in Pakistan. Policy implications for the regulatory body are to educate the youth about the appropriate and inappropriate use of mobile phone technology, and issuance of code of advertising to the telecom operators in Pakistan.

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