cellphone: status symbol?
By maroseqf
@maroseqf (3657)
Philippines
October 18, 2008 2:51am CST
cellular phones nowadays are widely used all over the world. as the time passed by, different technologies are added to the first modern cell phone which was invented by doctor martin cooper, more than three centuries ago. it has more uses nowadays and a lot of different varieties to choose from. there are those that are plain and simple, and there are those that are similar to laptops (or notebooks already). knowing all this, do you think people use their cellphones as a status symbol? meaning, the complicated and expensive your cellphone is, the richer you are.
i don't really agree with people who change their cellphones every now and then. me, i am contented with the current features of my phone which includes calling and texting, 2.0 megapixels camera, radio, internet, and other simple things. how about you?
2 people like this
22 responses
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
19 Oct 08
Centuries? The first patent was filed on October 17, 1973...so I think you meant decades, not centuries. Scared me though, since I remember the early ones. Glad I'm not quite THAT old....lol.
I think that the largest percentage of people who use the cell as a status symbol are teens, or young adults out to impress their peers. Certainly a percentage of users (people who travel, for example) need the extra features. Most do not.
I use my cell for calling and leaving/retrieving messages. For internet and music I use my computer, and for pictures I use my digital camera.
1 person likes this
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
19 Oct 08
There might be some people that might think that the cell phone is part of their status symbol but I don't think so. I don't look at what "cell phone" they have to assume what they do for a living or what they make a year. I mean, we're living in a time where even a 10 year old kids are carrying cell phones. Just because somebody as a cell phone doesn't really mean anything. It's not that people are getting richer, cell phone & the services are getting cheaper. As far as what type of cell phone people carry, it doesn't really mean much either. It's just me, I guess. I worked for a cell phone company for a short while & even in that short period, I've seen a lot of different types of people buying different type of cell phones. I can't say I'm impressed easily by what type of cell phone people carry.
@TopazSkye (51)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I'm not impressed by the sort of phone one carries either, but I do consider them to be status symbols more than just something one would need. Based on all the "extras" that come with or are available for cell phones these days.
@finescribe (199)
• Philippines
19 Oct 08
i think those were the days when mobile phones are of vanity. But these days, it is already a commodity. You need them in order to communicate effectively. It is not about the status symbol and the likes of being a social climber, it is about convenience of having communication.
I personally think that it is not anymore a status symbol. For one, it is an all in one gadget with phones and camera in one. Plus you need them to log on to the internet especially when you are on the move.
Cellphone a status symbol? That was a thing in the past.
@finescribe (199)
• Philippines
19 Oct 08
Whether they treat it as thing of necessity or just a mere jewelry, it is not our problem anymore. And besides, we are not there to make it our own business. As long as we are contented with what we have, it would not be a problem of us. While some people think of it as jewelry, perhaps, that is their own way of proving their worth.
We always have our own way of proving our worth. It could be in the way we dress, the way we do our thing, or perhaps, our talent. While there are those who does not possess anything which could not prove their worth. Getting our worth defines who we are in this world. It would not be a surprising thing that some people wants to display their wares in things that some people cannot get. While you might call it vanity, i will call it identity crisis. In this way, their hunger for getting that respect will be satisfied with that.
So, if they will think that cellular phone is still a jewelry, let them do so for they have no means to prove themselves but through the thing they own or they wear.
@adriantys78 (949)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 08
Hi Maroseqf, ya, i believe so, because some of my friend really use the to present or show off. The situation always happened when he/she bought new and latest technology cell phone or PDA. The will show off like this, "you know what, i just know that the cell phone can have 8 megapixel features and i just got it!", wow, really cause people feel uncomfortable. The situation get more interesting when 2 or more of similar attitude friends in group, they will argue which is better. 
@runningeyes (185)
• China
19 Oct 08
Hey,maroseqf!
I don't think it is a status symbol.But it is not absolute.
Some rich man wears poor cloth,some poor man wears good cloth,we can't judge people from these things.
Of course ,it is sure that you are not so poor if you have a complicated and expensive.
@runningeyes (185)
• China
20 Oct 08
Hey,maroseqf!
Yes,you are right!Some people like testing the newest things,and they'll pay their all for their hobby.So we can't judge them from the things they have.
How about you?Did you pay your all for a thing?
@argie713 (1809)
• Philippines
18 Oct 08
Cellular phones must not be associated with your status in society. The father of my friend owns a building in our school but only have an Nokia 8250 as a cellphone. There are lots of social climbers nowadays that showoff their cellphones for people to think that they belong to a higher class in the society. I do not like their style. Cellphones are for communication purposes. They must not be used as status symbol.
@pp_earn (210)
• India
18 Oct 08
Yes, of course cell phones are a status symbol today and most of my friends keep on changing their cell phones according to the latest technology but as for my case I love using my black Nokia with camera and that probably is the best feature I like on my cell.I take lots of photographs with it.My brother has a mobile that has a radio facility on it and he always keeps on listening songs in it.
@bournecaindelta (2477)
• India
18 Oct 08
Well, actually I do not think that cellphones can even be considered as a mark of status now. Every body has one so there's not point in showing it off and making the other person feel low about it. If only one person owns a cellphone and then shows it off, then it can be accepted as a status symbol, but if everyone has it,whats the point of status.
bourne
@kenchiprincess (5296)
• Philippines
5 Jan 09
Other may think that having a complicated cellphone is a status symbol or tells people around you how you are doing financially but I knew of a lot of people you have a say in life but keep with them a less complicated cellphone as long as it works when used for calling and sending messages. My day used to tell my sister when she had a new cellphone. You may have an expensive mobile but you don't have enough load for it. LOL. that is true especially the young ones they would like to compete with others by showing off the mobile that they have. what is important is at the end of the day you can eat 3x a day and live a comfortable life. cellphones are just a mere want not really a need.
@smooch091784 (973)
• Philippines
4 Jan 09
This totally depends on a person. True enough for a lot of people who would get really expensive phones that actually not suit with their income to afford it and yet, they still would get it even they won't have decent meals in months. This are actually happening few years back. But right now, since there are countless number of mobile phones, I don't think most people would actually would get one for the status symbol only. People now are more practical, and would get something within their budget. If someone gets a high-end phone, normally that is something what they need or what they really want. It is the thing of gaining something that what some people want and make them happy when getting it.
@jemalynjoy (215)
• Philippines
19 Oct 08
People seemed to be and is continuously addicted to cellular phones and unconsciously, they see phones as status symbols. Personally I own a SE k770i and I am quite contented with its features. What I have obserevd lately is that people seem to find another gadget to be a necessity and also a status symbol- laptops.
@king4aday (680)
• Philippines
18 Oct 08
I think when the first GSM cellphone was release it was a status symbol then. Remember those Nokia 5110? If you had one those you were might be considered rich. But nowadays, everyone has one. Having a very expensive cellphone is not practical. The prices declines very fast and new models are release every couple of months. I wouldn't change my cellphone unless it's broken, lost or stolen
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
5 Jan 09
I actually downgraded my phone from N70 to Nokia 5310 - it's a newer model but the brand new is cheaper than the brand new of my old phone. The old phone was 3G also had wifi like yours but my current phone is simple - sleek and functional. I use it for the music (18 hour play back!) and for texting and calling :D I'm quite happy with it and I don't plan to change it until it gets really worn out - or if my fingers grow tired of hitting it :P
Thanks for the response on my discussion!
@trixyteddy (1070)
• India
3 Nov 08
Quite frankly, the cellphone has become a necessity. Some people deny this. I don't carry one myself right now, as I really don't need it. But when I go out alone, I carry my son's cellphone. I make sure they have their cellphones with them when they go out. I can reach them anywhere and feel at peace. At business and work, it is a must now. Where status is concerned, that depends on the person using it...Its like a four-wheeler. All four-wheelers take us places, but status and money come in the way of choosing the four wheeler.
@UtopianIdealist (1604)
• United States
4 Dec 08
I know a few people that have somewhat expensive phones and plans though seem to be broke often. I myself, use an older phone that has little features, and will be getting a new one soon, not for the status symbol, but because my phone has no camera, no real ability to txt, and has had too many problems.
@armada8213 (99)
• China
23 Oct 08
I only need two function of my cellphone,one is call,the other is message.I think cellphone is a tool of your life,same as car and watch,but the product life of the cellphone is too short,only 6 or 12month,it's difficult to regard as a symbol of your status.And change cellphone most frequent is waste of resource.
@zipk11 (98)
• India
20 Oct 08
When i was in the school 6-7 yrs ago nobody had cellphones.... now i watch small kids of 12-13 yrs carrying mobile phones to schools..... this is an example to show their properity..... not ony in schools but mobile is considered a status symbol in every sphere of society....
@dwisasono (42)
• Indonesia
19 Oct 08
i had brand new PDA capable everything ... but still .... i still carrying my old samsung phone that only capable phone and sms ...
@janwin (36)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
Cellphone as status symbol?? Maybe for some. I own an iPhone 3G and I'm not rich. My phone doesn't even have load and sometimes I even borrow money from my classmates so that I can eat lunch which in turn they tell me to sell my cellphone in order to have money. Hehehe. I'm just fortunate that my mom and dad are loyal subscribers of Globe Telecoms that's why they're getting all the free phones or discounted phones and they're just using Plan 800!
As for the people who are using their phones as status symbol.. Well.. We can do nothing about them.. because they have the cash..
