Modern-day life with its emphasis on technology offers innumerable innovative products to make it a lot better and easier. Markets are flooded with latest designs of computers, microwave ovens, washing machines, air conditioners, cellular phones and several other gizmos. With so much to offer, the consumer is easily swayed by a dime-a-dozen glossy advertisements.

History bears testimony to the fact that anything, if and when used properly, brings good outcomes but, when misused, causes disasters. Misuse or abuse of any worthy entity may well turn a blessing into a curse. Same is the state of affairs with the latest discovery of technology – mobiles!

The mobile to which goes the credit of making the world a global village is slowly but surely being transformed into a curse rather than a blessing due to its misuse especially by the youth of today. In this computerized era of ours, technology is putting at our disposal every new invention to render life more comfortable and easier. But, unfortunately, a handful of our youngsters are making an abuse of mobile phones.

Instead of using cellular phones as tools to facilitate their lives, the majority of our youngsters have become enslaved by them. Thus, mobiles have become a dangerous tool in the hands of the youth. The one-time much yearned-for mobile has become a toy for the new generation. Virtually, all students possess a cellular now. Hence, they resort to it on the least occasion.

The mobile is the easiest means of communication, which saves one the pain of finding a public phone booth whenever required. But, teenagers nowadays are using the mobile phones as an instrument to satisfy their appetite for sex. They use mobiles to get easy access to pornography. Instead of concentrating on their work, they feast their eyes on pornographic pictures, which are easily available through the vast network. Thus, they waste their precious time indulging in cheap and unproductive acts, which yield nothing but bad consequences. Urged by pornography, they are incited to bad actions like pre-marital sex and sometimes sex with violence. It can be remembered that, one year ago, almost every youngster had on his mobile the ‘super-hit’ movie The Show. This, in its wake, brings lots of evils like a vulnerable generation since they are more exposed to sexually contagious diseases like Aids, among others. Hence, the mobile phone again proves out to be a dangerous tool in the hands of youngsters.

Wherever they are, whatever the situation be it in drawing-rooms, bedrooms, houses, shops, hotels, cinema halls, buses, cars or classrooms, youngsters are seen glued to their mobiles either sending or receiving short messages. They hardly bother about the outside world. They are unconcerned whether they are in class where the teacher is explaining or discussing something important; they just stick to their mobiles. Nowadays, writing love letters is outdated. Young lovers send “sms”. They even chat for hours on their mobiles. Mobiles also help them to befriend youth from all parts of the world. Mobiles have made their lives easier. Thus, all sorts of messages are sent and received without any reservation. With this, they cut themselves off from their studies. They indulge in “sms” events at the detriment of their studies. Consequently, the fact is re-iterated that they have turned this device into a dangerous tool. Even when walking from school to bus stop or bus stop to school, the mobiles are switched on and they walk with bent heads concentrating on the “sms.” Hence shutting the doors and windows to the outside world.

This mode of using a mobile has created a sort of a wall around a teenager who no longer moves about with his friends. He prefers to stay alone in his own world, with his mobile taking delight in the magical effect of the so-small technological wand. In this way, the personal development of the teenager is curbed. He does not fully develop his character and personality as teenagers used to in the past.

Besides, cards are overused in mobile phones. Just imagine, a prepaid card costs at least Rs 144. It is surely an additional expenditure in the family budget. Sometimes, we can see youngsters using one or even two cards in a day. A couple working together, earning Rs 5,000, how will they be able to provide money for cards? It has also been reported that some youngsters indulge in illegal activities to secure prepaid cards for their mobiles.

Thus, the fact remains undeniable that our youth are failing to recognise the value and make proper use of the modern means of communication, which is the mobile. Hence, instead of making it a tool for themselves, they have become an instrument in the hands of the minute automaton. And the day is not far away when gradually machines will take control of man’s life if such remains the state of affairs. Therefore, without much delay the youth of today must stand back and realize what blunders they are committing and apply an immediate brake to their thoughtless acts. And I, being one of the youth of today, am sure that the great day is imminent as our youth, above all and after all, are wise enough to sort out what is beneficial to them or otherwise.

Zafirah FOONDON</B>