Exploring mobile phone and social media use in a Nairobi slum: a case for alternative approaches to design in ICTD

Abstract

Technology developers continue to develop new information and communication technologies (ICTs) aimed at addressing longstanding problems in international development. However, the sheer number of unsuccessful projects shows the importance of better understanding the ways in which a given population uses technology, before attempting to build novel applications for that population. We argue that this means adopting a methodological approach that recognizes that ideas develop slowly over time. As a first step in realizing this process, we present results from an exploratory qualitative study of mobile phone and social media use among residents of an informal settlement, or "slum", in Nairobi, Kenya. Our fieldwork reveals how contextual factors unique to slum environments affect mobile phone ownership and Internet access. We use these findings to propose an alternative approach to design, which accounts for the realities of living in a slum, and engages with residents. We also address the need for greater reflexivity in ICTD research.