MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, AND GENDER IN MYANMAR MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, AND GENDER IN MYANMAR 5.2.4 Current communication behaviour of non-owners 5.2.5 Benefits of mobile access: Changing perceptions with data service uptake Phone usage, frequency, and spending The qualitative research indicated a shift in the perceived benefits of having a mobile once respondents had access to the internet. While calls were still important, the internet introduced them to new experiences, such as: Mobile non-owners in Yangon tend to have access to a phone via a relative/husband in their household, which is predominantly a smartphone with internet access. Consequently, although they had little phone or internet knowledge of their own, they had heard about or seen what others did online. In most cases, mobile non-owners in Pantanaw had no phone at home. Their nearest phone was a few houses away or at a next door neighbour’s. The general level of knowledge about mobile phones and internet among rural people, especially women, was even lower than urban mobile non-owners (which was also limited), and some had never even touched a smartphone. Although they would use a neighbour’s Efforts are needed to increase digital literacy, especially for rural residents and women. or friend’s phone, many did not know how to operate it and the owner had to perform even the most basic tasks, such as dialling or hanging up for them. Access to a phone improved for most over the last year, as many can now rely on friends/relatives to make a call or be reached through their number. Phone sharing has problems, however. General phone usage by non-owners is currently quite low. Most only make calls in emergencies or to enquire about the health of faraway relatives (although quite infrequently). Non-working women especially expressed low need for a mobile since they stayed home most of the time. However, many stated that they would call their children/husband/parents more often if both parties had a phone. “I don’t know how to operate a mobile phone. I would ask them to dial for me.” FGD rural, female non-owner, 30-45, non-working, SEC D/E • Staying in touch with friends and family in a new way by sharing photos and making video calls, so one feels closer to them. • Making new friends, especially of the opposite sex, independently from their family (offline, this kind of activity would not be approved of by parents, elders, etc.), especially among younger males. • Having access to international news and information, which is not available offline. Villagers often rely on hearsay, radio, or the limited state TV channels, since pay TV is more expensive and reception is not always good. • New entertainment possibilities, such as games and social media, are popular among all age groups and men and women, and they also help users fulfill the need to stay in touch with others. • New business opportunities, such as selling goods through an online store, expands one’s reach to different regions. • More efficient day-to-day activities, for example, access to more information (e.g. prices of fish) and remote coordination of business and other activities (making a doctor’s appointment) has reduced the need to travel. These findings are supported by the survey, which showed mobile owners perceive greater benefits to using a mobile than non-owners, with very small45 differences between women and men (Figure 16). Women who do not own a mobile have slightly higher perceptions of the benefits of mobile access, perhaps because they tend to have more access (e.g. via their husband’s mobile) than non-owning males (it is less likely that a man’s wife will own a mobile for him to use freely when he does not have one himself). Among mobile owners, men tend to have (very slightly) higher perceptions of the benefits of access. “Initially I bought it to communicate with my parents but then I found out that you can search for news with your phone. You don’t have to buy journals anymore.” FGD Yangon, female owner, 30-45, non-working, SEC B/C 45. But statistically significant 48 49