By Princewill Ekwujuru

Sociologists concede that life for young people in the contemporary society is both challenging and uncertain. They insist that the individual life courses of today’s young are less predictable and more individually framed than ever before.

The decline in the stability of social structures such as family, work and social security is only one of the factors that have been blamed for this situation. Others include loosening of the ties between structures such as education and employment in addition to the increased diversity in household and family life.

These have created in youths a feeling of rejection which leads to a lack of trust and unwillingness to take part in the framework of normal organisations. Experts have termed this marginalization or social exclusion. While no commonly acceptable definition for the term marginalisation or being at risk of social exclusion exists.

For this purpose, this reporter will work with one that wouldn’t contribute to further stigmatization. Thus, marginalised youth refers to “young people with fewer opportunities.”

However, sociologists have harped on the urgent need to seek new and innovative ways of approaching young and excluded people, and for promoting their re-integration into the societal circle.

Perhaps, this is one good reason to listen to those who argue that mobile networks and telephones could serve as the main infrastructure for social inclusion. Undeniably, the mobile phone is today central to the lives of young people of various social, economic, educational and cultural groups. Nigerian currently has over 90 million connected lines.

Studies utilising qualitative and quantitative measurements to explore the usage of mobile phones across youth indicate that mobile phones are a vital tool for young people’s social lives.

Clearly, what needs to be done is to enhance this social attribute of mobile phones by introducing online mobile communities to serve the need of youth to belong to a community, both explicitly and implicitly. And since the youth already see their phone as a part of their person and identity, one gets the sense it should work neatly. The mobile phone is more than just a means of communication; it is also a matter of expressing one’s identity and style.

Evidently, the highly visible action of using the phone, and the ever-present need to be part of the virtual community and to have access to it, are more than just an effective use of a tool. Without doubt, MTN Pulse is a veritable tool for social inclusion, conversation and meeting of like minds.

Additionally, the mobile phone gives young people independence and privacy as well as enabling them to function in a world which is in their control. So we can safely say that through the concept of online communities, ICT has the potential to serve as a gateway to social inclusion. And the fact that mobile phones provide instant connection on the move makes it really attractive.

That is why MTN officials swear that there is no limit on friendship, freedom and fun on the platform.