Paper short abstract:

This paper critically examines the notion of ‘’social change’’ in relation to mobile phone and social inequalities and calibrates assumptions made in the current literature with what could be observed in the everyday life of the poorest of the poor in Niamey, Niger.

Paper long abstract:

Over the last decade mobile phone adoption and use in Africa grew at an exceptional pace sparking research and newspapers articles that contend that this device ''is transforming Africa.'' However, the notions of ''social transformation'' or ''social change'' are not always clearly explained and we do not still know what the actual ''transformation of Africa'' consists in. Is it the physical availability and access to mobile phones such as manifested in the impressive figures of adoption? Is it a change manifested in economic growth? What is the depth of the so-called ''social change''? Did the relationships between people and groups of people change? This paper critically examines the notion of ''social change'' in relation to mobile phone and social inequalities and calibrates assumptions made in the current literature with what could be observed in the everyday life of the poorest of the poor in Niamey, the capital city of Niger. Contrary to the irenic view of technology, it is concluded that the ''transformative'' character of mobile phones when it comes to social inequalities is not evident. The paper is based on a field research carried out during the summers of 2008 and 2011 among the most disadvantaged people living in four quarters of Niamey.