Kenneth T McNeely
Ethnography Digest
May 10, 2012
The Youth of Los Angeles, Urbanizing The Style of Cellphones and Mobilities
Did you know some 75% of 12-17 year-olds now own cell phones, up from 45% in 2004. Those phones have become indispensable tools in teen communication patterns (Lenhart, 2010). Likewise, if you were to pause for a moment and look around, how many youth would you be able to spot with a cellphone in their hands? If I had to make an assumption, it would be nearly every youth you came across. With the advancements in technology, this social media is available 24 hours a day at our fingertips. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, today, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day (Palosky, 2010). It’s interesting to note, if you were to add all those hours up, it would equal more then 53 hours per week.
However, what could the youth be doing that would be consuming so much of their time? What was the deeper meaning behind the youth of Los Angeles and cellphones? How were the youth reacting to a given urban environment that encouraged such behavior? What role would mobilities play with how information is transferred between individuals? Likewise, what meaning-making was there to be uncovered by observing this behavior?
Generally speaking, the above questions would be the leading factors that would put me directly out in the field. I would be collecting important data that observed the normal behavior among the youth of Los Angeles and their cellphones. In addition, my search for an answer would lead me through several urban environments. Starting on California State University Northridge’s own Sierra Center, leading me to directly observe inside of a Starbucks Café, located on Chatsworth & Lindley Street, which I would revisit the next day. However, my journey for an answer would continue down into the heart of Los Angeles’s Staples Center, and into a BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, to further pursue this engrossing question.
Additionally, in order to help me collect and analyze the data from my field visits, I would be using various anthropological methods. These would be limited to participant observation, behavior inventories and movement mapping. For my first two field visits, I would rely on using these tools to see how youth made meaning of the spaces they occupied. Looking at how they acted in an outside environment, compared to an indoor environment like Starbucks. However, I would seize the opportunity of my second field site inside of Starbucks Café, to interview a few youth I came across. Following the interviews, I would be able to provide greater support for my research question, by having opinions other then my own.
Different from my other methods I applied to get data, I would be using carefully written vignettes for my last two sites. Writing about my visit to Los Angeles’s Staples Center to watch a hockey game, and when I went out to eat at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. My vignettes would depict how watching people’s ordinary behavior, suddenly becomes extraordinary by normal standards. That so often, we actually miss how meaning making is created between individuals. It is through my use of vignettes that I flesh out this fascinating behavior at my other field site locations.
Be that as it may, why is cellphone use among the youth of Los Angeles today relevant? We witness this ordinary behavior everyday out in public, so why study it? Granted, it may look like the youth are mindlessly texting away and chatting on their cellphones, that is only your assumption. However, when you change your perspective on the matter, you’ll discover the way that urbanization is taking place within these enclosed socialized places. The youth are doing much more then just texting. They’re creating the very essence of mobilities, as they exchange and process information with one another. So come out onto a journey with me, as I venture into an urban environment to discover this relationship between youth, cellphones, and mobilities.
Field Visit #1
Sierra Center, across from the Freudian Sip. Observation time from 12:40 P.M. – 1:40 P.M. Located on California State Universities Main Campus Site, February 21, 2012
For my first field site location, I had a number of questions I wanted to have answered. First, I wanted to observe how youth react in their relationship with technology in their ordinary lives. Secondly, I wanted to find out if an urban setting outside will socially construct a different interaction between individuals. For example, one hypothesis I wanted to test was to see if I would catch more girls then guys using their cellphones. I think it is automatically implied that girls would talk more on their cellphones then guys. However, lets avoid jumping to assumptions right away.
Sierra Center, Initial Impressions On Site, Time 12:40 – 12:50 P.M.
Walking south from the Oviatt Library, I managed to get a good table to sit at to begin my fieldwork, which was located directly across from the Freudian Sip. It had exactly just hit 12:42 P.M. as sounds of all sorts fluttered around me. Today was a nice day; slightly windy but not too cold either. Every time a gust of wind would blow past the Sierra Center, I would watch other students try to hold down their papers so they wouldn’t fly away. The air was cool, clean, and refreshing. However, as I looked around, one of the first things I noticed was that more groups of girls were huddled together at a small table then guys. No longer then 4 minutes after I was taking in my initial observations, I overheard a group of 5 girls talking about breast-feeding. It was surprising to me that girls could openly discuss a topic like breast-feeding out in the open, while surrounded by others.
Movement Mapping of Sierra Center, 12:50 - 1:10 P.M.
After 10 minutes of initial observing, I wanted to jump into my first anthropological method of gathering data, by using movement mapping. However, I wanted to focus on the paths that girls and guys would walk, with relationship within this closed urban space. Which gender would walk closer between the groups of people sitting at tables while they were passing through? To briefly explain the color keys I used for my movement mapping, the orange rectangles are tables hidden by the trees. The teal colored rectangle is the table that I sat at for my observation. The green rectangles represent doors that would funnel in and out traffic around the area. I also used the color blue to represent male movement and pink for the females.
What you’ll notice on my map is that girls were making more trips between the closer connections of tables, then the guys. Females I noticed were more prone to walk closer to other groups of girls and stand at tableside talking. On the other hand, males would be walking and talking on there cellphones. I can only assume at the time of my mapping more guys were probably in lectures. Equally important, I did observe more girls walking through the Sierra Center then guys. It was also lunchtime at the time of my observation, so lots of females were coming out to get food and to sit with their friends. So it was rather interesting to note that girls had more freedom when it came to movement between tables. The guys would either cut directly through them, or walk on the outside avoiding them all together.
Behavioral Inventories 1:10-1:15 P.M.
Having gathered and drawn up a good map marking the movements of youth on Sierra Center, I then moved onto my second method of collecting data. This anthropological method would have me watching for specific behaviors I would witness out in the field. I would track the ratio of males to females in comparison to talking on their cellphones, having a laptop, sitting by themselves, and who I saw eating over a span of 5 minutes. While being somewhat limited, this tool helped me gather discrete data in relationship to youth in an outdoor environment. Overall, I saw 15 people talking on cellphones, with 8 being female and 7 being male. I saw 6 total people with laptops, 4 were female and 2 male. There were 4 people sitting by themselves at an even spread of 2 females to 2 males. Ending with a total of 16 people eating, 10 females and 6 males.
To explain what I found most interesting was that females had more laptops than males did. It was a pretty close neck-to-neck match between the girls and guys with regard to cellphone use. Nearing the end of my observation time, I spotted one last female who was talking on her cellphone. In the nearly girl dominated urban sphere that I was observing, I thought for sure there would be more females on cellphones than males.
Participant Observation 1:15 – 1:40 P.M.
Additionally, the last 35 minutes of my time out in the field would be devoted to my third anthropological method of participant observation. I really wanted to focus more on people’s interactions. One main thing I was looking for is how people socially interacted with one another on their cellphones. In an urban environment like Sierra Center, you wouldn’t find it odd to see among a group of females, at least one girl on her cellphone. It was at this time when I started to think how normal this behavior was within an urbanized outdoor environment.
Another key point was how I witnessed a male texting on his cellphone, while conversing with a female at the same table. I observed another male interacting with a female who was on her iPod with earphones on. While what looked like a total disconnection between two people socially, I think to the others this was just normal. Therefore, within the context of an urbanized environment such as Sierra Center, I observed what is perfectly normal behavior in the eyes of others.
Nevertheless, I was also able to observe that the whole population of Sierra Center was mostly of white ethnicity. As I sat among the majority of people, conversations were hard to follow with so many voices going off at once. I did notice that female voices were more boisterous and loud. Females had no issues walking between tables and standing over another group of girls to join in on a conversation. However, with two or more girls talking amongst themselves at a table, there would almost always be one girl who was not socially engaged. This particular individual would then be disengaged away on their cellphone, while their friends carried on a conversation. While I can only make the assumption that she was texting another one of her friends, or updating her status on Facebook, this is ordinary behavior. No one has any questions when they pull out their cellphone to respond to a text, or answer a call during the middle of a conversation. This is just normal everyday behavior in the heart of CSUN’s own Sierra Center.
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| Front view from where I was seated |
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| The lovely view to my left |
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| The lovely view to my right |
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| Front of store |
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| Overlooking the Plaza |
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| Further view of the plaza |
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| View over the left side of Sierra Center |
Field Visit #2
Starbucks Café, Chatsworth & Lindley St. Observation time from 3:44 P.M. – 4:44 P.M. Sitting inside the middle of the store, March 6, 2012
Additionally, my second field site location was all about interviews. Here is a wonderful picture of me standing next to a girl who was sweet enough to give me a short Q&A.
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| (On the left) Nicoletta Sureken (On the right yours truly) Kenneth McNeely |
What follows next are the transcripts from the memo I recorded and the questions I asked. For reference, the KM represents me talking and the NS are her responses (Her full name is Nicoletta Sureken).
KM: So if you don’t mind, let’s start with some quick information. Your name, age, and what do you do?
NS: My name is Nicoletta Sureken, You can call me Nico for short. I’m 20 years old, and unemployed. [She gave a cute giggle at the end when she had mentioned she was unemployed trying to keep her voice down so others wouldn’t hear her I assume]
KM: Haha, I’m sorry to ask you this, but could you spell your last name for me?
NS: Sure, it’s S U R E K E N, Sureken.
KM: Thanks for going slow for me. Going straight to my first question for you, why do you have a cellphone?
NS: Why do I have a cellphone? [Her fingers tapped curiously on the top of the table. I could tell I had caught her off guard]
I mainly have it to text my amigos; keeping in constant contact is something that’s very important to me. My cellphone is an easy way for me to communicate between all the people I know. We may not always be together, but were only a text away ~ ♪
KM: Interesting, when you got your cellphone did you feel like it drew you away from your family at all by texting too much?
NS: Well maybe a little bit. [She pretended to text with her fingers in front of me] I don’t think it has really drawn me away. If it has, I’m sure my parents would let me know or tell me I care more about the text messages I get, then turning my attention to them.
KM: Fascinating, so when did you get your first cellphone?
NS: [She took a quick sip from her drink she had and giggled some more] I got one in 4th or 5th grade, I was spoiled. [I was surprised how open she was being with me]
KM: In what situations do you find yourself using your cellphone the most?
NS: When I’m bored and just sitting at home. Anytime where I feel I have nothing to do, I know I can just pull out my cellphone and idle away on it.
KM: What type of situation would you consider it rude to use your cellphone?
NS: Um…[By this time she had an opened facial expression and had leaned back in her chair rolling her shoulders as she shrugged] if you’re with a group of friends or at dinner ya know? However, I do this all the time even when I’m with my friends or even sitting on the couch at home with my boyfriend. It just feels natural to always have out my cellphone when I’m with other friends.
KM: Now I’m just curious, what brand of cellphone do you own?
NS: iPhone 4 with Verizon.
KM: Any reason why you picked an Apple phone?
NS: Cause it’s the best and it feels stable. It doesn’t crash on me and the social features it has always keeps me in contact and up to date with what my friends are doing. [She pulls out her iPhone and shows it to me then keeps it in her right hand as she continues the interview with me. It was almost as if holding it made her feel more comfortable]
KM: Can you remember what your life was like before your cellphone?
NS: Well…I did a lot more. It’s weird I’m almost constantly on it. I guess it is good and bad. [I could tell she was somewhat troubled by the answer she had given me, she had now rested her chin on her hands]
KM: Anything else?
NS: I was more productive I would do more reading, things around the house; it’s hard to put down my phone.
KM: Wow I see, so for my final question, do you think you could live without your cellphone for a day?
NS: [She gasped at first with her mouth wide open, bringing her hands up to cover it and her eyes widened] No, I’d have major anxiety, I couldn’t live a minute without it. Um…. I’d have to find something to fill my boredom, that’s so sad.
KM: Well I’d like to thank you for your time I really appreciate it.
By this time it was already around 6:47 P.M. The interview had lasted 42 minutes. Out of several other interviews that I had after this, I felt hers was the best. It was nice being able to get what I believed were honest responses from my interviewees. I was shocked that so many youth had just considered their cellphones as a part of them and didn’t realize how much time they were spending on their cellphones everyday.
Field Visit #3
Los Angeles Staples Center, 6:45 P.M. – 10:15 P.M. March 20, 2012
Vignette #1: Come for the Hockey Game, Share with your Cellphone
The air is tense and cold inside of the dome. People are packed tightly together, bumping arm to arm with strangers they’ve never met before. However, before the big game even gets started, individual white glows are filling the rows of the stadium. Had one been an alien from another planet, they’d stand in bewilderment to what this strange light was. Yet, while our extraterrestrial friend might be puzzled, there is an informational highway that is never slowing down. People are doing the ordinary job of texting before the game starts. Filling in status updates to their friends who couldn’t make it to the game.
Yet, through this exchange something truly extraordinary is taking place. Urbanization has taken the form of mobilities through the use of cellphones. While the people on their cellphones might be unaware of the consequences, they are the very surge of this creation. It is through the perceived emotions and texts where this tenacious meaning making is created.
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| The white glare of a cellphone |
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| A father takes a video with his iPhone |
Furthermore, while watchers come for the hockey game, they stare down at their cellphones. There is father taking a video with his camera phone. His two sons, and wife are sitting right next to him. One day he’ll show the video to his sons when they’re older. However, the father has forever locked in time, a precious moment. Captured in the span of 10-20 seconds. While seeming ordinary, this behavior of wanting to look back at the past is extraordinary. Likewise, when the son is grown, and the father’s old. The son will forever remember this day when he went to the hockey game with his dad.
Field Visit #4
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, 4:12-5:41 P.M. April 1, 2012
Vignette #2: Media Infant Tycoon
Strangers seated all around. People crowded in the hustle and buzz of a busy restaurant. The servers continue to rush around taking orders and delivering drinks. I can smell the wonderful aroma of a freshly prepared, balsamic vignette salad with the firm sound of the plate being put on the table. Strangers continuing to idly chat, filling up the space as their voices are heard all around. Yet, nestled in the very center of this urbanized jungle of consumerism, a 2-year-old baby.
However, gone are the infantile cries that should be happening. In a seemingly extraordinary chain of events, a mother has used her iPhone to play a video for her baby girl. Utilizing a container of pepper, to prop her phone up as a viewing screen. Therefore, allowing the mom to enjoy a conversation with her family. To emphasize, the strangers seated around don’t notice anything at all. To them this is just ordinary behavior. All of a sudden, to the ethnographer with keen eyes, the birth of meaning making has taken place at a humble dinner table.
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| A baby watches cartoons on an iPhone propped against some pepper
Reflection on the Vignettes
Through my Vignette’s, I was trying to point out within the sphere of any urban environment, meaning making is always taking place. People desire to share, to update, and to include others who aren’t physically there with them. Unbeknown to them, they capture time picture-by-picture, and video-after-video. This shows how mobilities are forever running. Following a car that won’t run out of gas inside of a digital network society. However, this is small compared to what the larger picture is. While this may seem ordinary, youth have adapted in their environment, making it absolutely extraordinary. This concept of mobilities isn’t something you’ll stumble upon if you aren’t looking for it. To the untrained eye, it looks like the youth of Los Angeles are just texting back and forth wasting time. Yet, what I’ve discovered is so much more, by distancing myself back and watching with trained eyes.
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Concluding Thoughts and Reflections
With the amount of time I invested on my project I had spent over 10 hours in the field conducting research. What I have discovered from all of my observations is that the youth of Los Angeles aren’t just mindlessly texting away on their cellphones. No. There is a deeper meaning to be had from sitting and observing these young individuals. Through their cellphones they are diving headfirst into a pool of networks that go far beyond just your average text. These youth are exchanging information and ideas non-stop through social networking. Together with the concept of mobilities and how every picture they take, or video they record is taking a snapshot of what time was like in the past.
To say nothing of how this research has impacted my own views of youth and cellphones today would be cutting myself short. What I used to think was just mindless teens texting their lives away, turned out to be so much more underneath. By taking a step back and observing others as they interacted through normal everyday behavior, I discovered how urban concepts played a key role in how youth gave meaning to the spaces they occupied.
Lastly, I want people to look differently at youth texting away on their cellphones. The youth of Los Angeles are contributing to a higher network society that doesn’t exist in a physical realm that can be readily scene. These youth have their own urbanized socially constructed plane that exists within the information super structures of the Internet. Through taking advantage of these digitized networks like-minded youth can find other groups, which they belong to and share ideas with. It is within this framework that meaning making is produced, constructed, and given life during any specific moment in time.
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