Smartphones and changing values among university youth

Abstract

In the digital era, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, revolutionizing the way we communicate, gather information, and navigate the world. This technological advancement has had a profound impact on various aspects of society, including the values and behaviors of university youth. It is worth mentioning that this modern technological tool is amongst the most important means of communication used in the current era, in light of the digital environment in which societies live, which has created a new, wide space for social interaction, and participation in social life, whether at the internal level or external level. With the widespread availability and usage of smartphones, young adults have become increasingly reliant on these devices for communication, information access, and entertainment. As the younger generation increasingly relies on smartphones for their daily activities, it is essential to explore how these devices have shaped their values and influenced their perspectives on various social, cultural, and ethical issues.  It opened the way for the Young, and other members of society, to learn and interact with new cultural elements about their society, identity, constants and reference values derived from Islam and from the traditions and customs which characterize the Algerian society. However, this technological tool has become a threat to their social and societal security. Despite the privileges it carries for the individual, in all respects, it has, meanwhile, many negatives. Therefore, it has become necessary to raise awareness about these tools and work to reduce the youth’s dependency on them. For, facing this global transformation in the field of technology and keeping pace with digitization and the use of its media has become an urgent and inevitable need to catch up with global civilization, and keep pace with the knowledge explosion.

The present paper aims to reveal the extent of the impact of smartphones on the value system of the young people; in general, and on university youth; in particular, especially the cultural and social values, such as social responsibility, community participation, social belonging, social support, and other values. Within this context, the researchers used descriptive analytical approach to examine the impact of smartphones on the values and behaviors of university youth, and how the adoption of smartphones has influenced the values and priorities of university students, ultimately shaping their attitudes and behaviors.