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‘Call if You Have Trouble’: Mobile Phones and Safety among College Students

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  • JACK NASAR
  • PETER HECHT
  • RICHARD WENER

Abstract

In theory, mobile phone use may have beneficial and harmful effects. Individuals may use mobile phones to call for help or report various dangers and emergencies, but they may also go places they would not normally go without the phone. To test the perceptions of safety and subsequent behavior associated with mobile phone use, we conducted two surveys. One survey of 317 undergraduates at The Ohio State University (OSU) found that most students reported having a mobile phone and feeling that it made them feel safer at night. A follow‐up survey of 305 undergraduates at OSU found that about 40% of students with mobile phones stated that, with a mobile phone, they walked where they normally would not. However, smaller percentages said they used their mobile phones to call for help either in a crime or non‐crime situation or to report an accident, a crime, a reckless driver or a hazardous situation. The results suggest favorable and unfavorable outcomes associated with the mobile phone. Although using it to call for help from a threat, crime, or to report other unsafe conditions has value, the increased perceived safety associated with it may lead students to engage in risky behavior that could increase their chances of becoming a victim. Future work should consider whether mobile phone use increases or decreases the likelihood of victimization and of catching a predator. Résumé En théorie, utiliser un téléphone portable peut avoir des effets positifs et négatifs. Les individus peuvent s'en servir pour appeler de l'aide ou signaler divers dangers et urgences, mais ils peuvent aussi aller là où ils n'iraient pas normalement sans leur portable. Pour tester les sentiments de sécurité et le comportement subséquent associéà l'utilisation du téléphone portable, nous avons réalisé deux études. L'une, sur 317 étudiants de 1er cycle de la Ohio State University (OSU), a montré que la plupart des étudiants disaient disposer d'un portable et avoir la sensation, grâce à lui, d'être plus en sécurité la nuit. D'après une enquête complémentaire sur 305 étudiants de 1er cycle à OSU, environ 40 % des étudiants ayant un portable ont déclaré que, avec celui‐ci, ils se déplaçaient à pied dans des lieux où ils ne le feraient pas normalement. En revanche, une part plus restreinte a indiqué avoir utilisé son portable pour appeler de l'aide, que ce soit lors d'un crime ou non, ou bien pour signaler un accident, un crime, un conducteur imprudent ou une situation dangereuse. Les résultats suggèrent des conséquences favorables et néfastes dérivées du téléphone portable. Bien que son utilisation pour appeler de l'aide en cas de menace ou de crime, ou bien pour signaler d'autres risques, soit valable, la perception de sécurité renforcée qui lui est associée est susceptible d'entraîner les étudiants à avoir un comportement à risque, accroissant leur probabilité de devenir une victime. Un travail ultérieur devrait étudier si l'usage du téléphone portable accroît ou diminue la probabilité de victimisation et de capture d'un délinquant.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack Nasar & Peter Hecht & Richard Wener, 2007. "‘Call if You Have Trouble’: Mobile Phones and Safety among College Students," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 863-873, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijurrs:v:31:y:2007:i:4:p:863-873
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2427.2007.00759.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schafer, Joseph A. & Huebner, Beth M. & Bynum, Timothy S., 2006. "Fear of crime and criminal victimization: Gender-based contrasts," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 285-301.
    2. Rice, Ronald E. & Katz, James E., 0. "Comparing internet and mobile phone usage: digital divides of usage, adoption, and dropouts," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(8-9), pages 597-623, September.
    3. Rachel Pain & Sue Grundy & Sally Gill & Elizabeth Towner & Geoff Sparks & Kate Hughes, 2005. "‘So Long as I Take my Mobile’: Mobile Phones, Urban Life and Geographies of Young People's Safety," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 814-830, December.
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    2. Chowdhury, Subeh & van Wee, Bert, 2020. "Examining women's perception of safety during waiting times at public transport terminals," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 102-108.
    3. Chen, Jingjing, 2021. "Do mobile phones empower women? A perspective from rural India," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 09, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.

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