Technology replaces people in the job market
Many in developing countries have embraced the use of mobile technology to boost their business. This is majorly because technology makes it easy for them to perform some of the tasks that would have taken two or more people to complete. Even the labor-intensive industries in third world countries are now using mobile technology to streamline their processes. While technology leads to notable productivity gains, the downside cannot be ignored. It is true that while industries embrace mobile technology, many people end up without jobs or any source of livelihood. Job loss in third world countries affects an entire household, and since jobs here are hard to come by, many families go without basic necessities. For mobile technology to have an overall positive impact, it will need not just to improve productivity but also create more jobs while ensuring that the existing ones are high paying.
Online Gaming is accessible even to people who cannot keep up with it
Unlike the developed countries where most if not all gamers can afford to pay a substantial amount of money for their entertainment, things are quite different in third world countries. People in these countries lack basics such as food and clothing, and gaming is the least among their priorities. Many unemployed people in developing countries try their luck in different gambling sites and some instances they stake all they have. This means that in case the odds are not in their favor, and the gamers are left in a worse off financial position.
Gaming consoles in these countries are overpriced and only available to a fraction of the population. However, mobile technology has made it easy for anyone with a mobile device to access games and gamble online. This possibly explains the rise in online casino in Arab countries. While gambling in these impoverished countries is illegal, a good percentage of the youths engage in online gaming. This means that money that is meant for school fees or food end up on betting sites, and this translate to suffering for the people involved. In addition, gaming can be addictive, and some gamers result in stealing and committing other petty crimes to get the money they need for online gaming.
Possible widening of the gap between the rich and the poor
Most developing economies are characterized by an uneven distribution of wealth. While the elites in these countries can use mobile technology to their advantage, the poor cannot do so. The bulk of the populations in these countries are consumers who remain at the mercy of the rich when it comes to accessing mobile technology services, among other products.
The mobile technology also allows the introduction of business models that make it possible for a few people to dominate an entire industry. With minimal competition, the few people in these sectors continue to enrich themselves as their counterparts languish in poverty.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that mobile technology comes with numerous benefits, especially in third world countries. That said, it is also important to note that the technology also comes with serious downsides that cannot be ignored. There is evidence that this technology has worsened the unemployment crisis in these countries and led to irresponsible gambling that has added to the suffering of the people. Unless more emphasis is put on wealth distribution, it is also possible that the use of mobile technology could lead to widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.
