Abstract

Since the introduction of the Global System of Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) in Nigeria over thirteen years ago, the country has witnessed dramatic changes in information dissemination. The World Fact book (2008) indicates that Nigeria is the 16^th country of the world in mobile cellular usage with about 63 million subscribers, and this is on the increase. The innovation serves as an effective avenue for information dissemination, entertainment, social networking, awareness creation, mass mobilization, spiritual advocacy, and a reliable channel for sending and receiving remittances. Individuals and associations utilize the GSM for fund-raising consequently providing the basic necessities of life to the beneficiaries. The innovation since its introduction in Nigeria has provided job opportunities to teeming Nigerians. It is against this background that this paper examines trends of the GSM introduction in Nigeria, identifying some of its positive and negative effects, and exploring how its proliferation affects the lives of Nigerians. The study concludes that GSM is a value-neutral technology that may be associated with some personal, psychological, and social problems. Nevertheless, it is a social change agent for employment opportunities, increasing social networking and serving the functions of diffusion of innovation among others.

Key Words: Information, Dissemination, Diffusion, Transformation, Social Networking

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 6, No. 1, April 2014, 137 – 144 

©Delmas Communications Ltd.

About the authors

*Hajara Umar Sanda,  Ph.D. is with the Department of Mass Communications, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

**Mustapha Hashim Kurfi is with the Department of Sociology, Boston University, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Full Article

Words: 4,249; Pages: 8