The changes brought about by the proliferation of smartphones in our society are far-reaching, and along with the positive aspects of economic growth and convenience, they have also brought with them negative issues such as addiction and personal information leakage. As smartphones continue to evolve, social efforts and measures to address these issues are becoming more important.
Currently, the smartphone penetration rate in Korea is about 96% as of 2023, and it can be said that the majority of Koreans are using smartphones. Smartphones have become more than just a means of communication; they are deeply entrenched in our lives and are recognized as essential tools in our daily lives. We live in an age where smartphones make it easy to find information, communicate with people, and even conduct financial transactions anytime, anywhere. With the proliferation of smartphones, our lifestyles have changed dramatically and a new culture has emerged. The ubiquity of smartphones has led to the rapid growth of various industries, including software, mobile communications, and entertainment markets, which have had a profound impact on our daily lives and the economy. However, along with the positive changes brought about by the spread of smartphones, negative effects such as cyber addiction, personal information leakage, and social isolation are also on the rise, and there is an urgent need for social attention and countermeasures.
A smartphone is universally defined as a mobile phone that provides PC-like functions and advanced features for mobile communication. According to this, the first smartphone is believed to be Symon. It not only functioned as a cell phone, but also had an address book, world time, calculator, notepad, email, faxing, and entertainment. However, if you look at these features, you might think that it’s no different from what we call a “feature phone”. In addition, the definition of a smartphone is changed to a device that can be controlled by installing and uninstalling various applications, but it is true that there were devices that existed with incomplete functions such as installing and uninstalling applications, so the exact definition of the smartphone we are using now is ambiguous. The definition of a smartphone has changed over time as technology has evolved. While early smartphones were considered to be simply devices that integrated multiple functions into a single device, today’s smartphones are considered to be miniature computers with a high degree of computing power. This change means that smartphones have evolved from being just a means of communication to a tool for managing a person’s life in an integrated way. As a result, many experts define a smartphone as a device that can function as more than a mobile phone.
The popularization of smartphones began in earnest in the mid-2000s with RIM’s BlackBerry phones, and in Korea, the smartphone market expanded rapidly with the introduction of Apple’s iPhone in late 2009, leading to a sharp increase in interest and usage. In this process, consumers have been able to use various applications through smartphones, which has led to the creation of a new mobile ecosystem beyond the role of a simple phone. This popularization has been driven by the growth of various hardware – the spread of touchscreens and the development of displays, the spread of various media, and the development of mobile networks to facilitate data dissemination – and the competition among various manufacturers. As of 2023, Samsung Electronics still leads the global smartphone market with a 19% share, followed by Apple with a 17% share. China’s Huawei has seen its share drop significantly due to U.S. sanctions, with other Chinese companies Xiaomi (12%), Oppo (10%), and Vivo (8%) taking the third through fifth spots. Korea’s LG Electronics exited the smartphone business in 2021 and lost market share.
In the case of early smartphones, the price competitiveness of the hardware was the key to increasing the penetration rate due to the high price, but in the current case, consumers’ desire for high-end mobile devices has increased, and phones with powerful hardware have begun to appear. In particular, if you look at the comments on the launch articles of various smartphones recently, you can easily find comparisons such as 〇〇〇〇 phone with better RAM… smartphone hardware has become an important competitive factor. In particular, the market capitalization of Qualcomm, one of the most successful companies in this hardware race, has been rising, which shows how big the hardware market has become. In addition, the camera capabilities of smartphones have also become an important purchase factor. Advances in camera technology have made it easier for smartphone users to take high-quality photos and videos, which, coupled with the rise of social media, has become a powerful marketing point.
The smartphone operating system market is becoming increasingly dominated by Android and iOS. As of 2023, Android is expected to hold about 71% of the market, while iOS is expected to hold about 28%. Previously existing operating systems such as Symbian OS, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone, Samsung Bada, and Tizen have virtually disappeared from the market or have a very small share. This leaves little competition in the operating system market. The competition between these two operating systems is not just about market share, but also about user experience (UX) and ecosystem building. Android has expanded its market share by partnering with a wide range of manufacturers through its open platform, while iOS has built user loyalty by emphasizing the integrated hardware and software experience. As a result, consumers are choosing the operating system that’s right for them and enjoying a deeper experience within each ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the application market is still thriving, with a wide range of companies and individual developers releasing a large number of apps each year. In particular, apps that utilize cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality are gaining traction, and these trends continue to attract the attention of consumers and manufacturers alike. The opportunity to access a wide variety of software is one of the biggest advantages of using a smartphone, and since the launch of Apple’s App Store, a service that allows users to easily download various applications and software such as games, ebooks, music, and videos, it has become a huge market. In particular, the growth of the mobile gaming market is noteworthy. Many people are spending their leisure time on their smartphones, and mobile games are at the center of that. This has led game developers to release games that are optimized for the smartphone experience and continue to generate revenue. This huge market has many social impacts, including youth ventures and the growth of small businesses, such as Dragon Flight by NextFloor and Anipang by SundayToz.
The characteristics of smartphones with various contents and the increase in data dissemination through the development of mobile communication networks have led to the growth of various media markets, and the easy connection to the Internet network has led to an increase in SNS activities, which has spread to businesses using SNS. In particular, SNS services using smartphones are easier and simpler than those using PCs, and have experienced a lot of growth since the spread of smartphones. SNS is not just a place for communication, but also plays an important role in sharing and spreading information and shaping public opinion. For example, Twitter is used as a powerful tool for delivering real-time news and public discourse, and Instagram has become a leading platform for visual-oriented communication and marketing. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and KakaoTalk are the most commonly used social media platforms.
Smartphones have formed a symbiotic relationship with various companies and individuals, including media, providing media, supplying media, and other activities that are mutually beneficial. The use of smartphones has brought many positive effects, such as increasing the efficiency of work and greatly improving the convenience of daily life through various applications. In addition, it has diversified communication, including social communication and the formation of new relationships through various SNS, playing a key role in the 21st century information society. According to the 2022 Smartphone Usage Survey, 88.3% of smartphone users said that “using a smartphone has made life more convenient overall,” and 82.7% said that they “learned about news or new information faster.” This shows the positive effects of smartphones on individuals. This still proves the positive impact smartphones have on individuals. Smartphones are also playing an important role as a tool for education and learning. A variety of educational apps and online courses have made it possible to learn anytime, anywhere, which is helping to expand opportunities for lifelong learning. The smartphone industry is also an important contributor to economic growth, creating new jobs in app development and boosting e-commerce, among other economic impacts.
But the proliferation of smartphones hasn’t been without its upsides. Along with the rapid development of computers and high-speed telecommunications networks, the use of smartphones has made it possible to access desired content without being restricted by time or space, which has led to smartphone addiction. In addition, smart devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs are portable in nature, which makes them even more dangerous. Especially as the age of mobile phone use continues to decline, dependent behavior on mobile phones is on the rise, raising concerns about smartphone addiction. Smartphone addiction is recognized as a problem that goes beyond mere frequency of use and can have serious mental and physical health implications. It has been linked to poor academic performance, sleep disturbances, and poor vision in young people, and parents and educators are working hard to address it. However, studies have shown that the most common reason for children to play smartphone games is to pass the time. Based on this, governments are working to prevent and treat smartphone addiction in children and teens by creating programs that can be implemented at home or school. Research is also being conducted on other childhood behaviors.
Another problem that has emerged with smartphones is the leakage of personal information. Personal information leakage has been one of the biggest problems in the IT era. However, with the rapid spread of smartphones, security issues related to the use of various Internet services have become a priority in the utilization of smartphones. For example, various applications used on smartphones require a lot of personal information from users, and there is an ever-present risk of this information being leaked by hacking or malicious code. To mitigate this risk, users need to strengthen their privacy settings and maintain security levels through regular updates. Companies are researching ways to limit data leakage by developing smartphone-specific antiviruses, fingerprinting, and even iris recognition, and individuals are taking steps to prevent data leakage by following the manual to completely delete data. In addition, no viruses or hacker groups have directly attacked smartphones yet, but security companies and researchers are conducting research and experiments assuming various situations.
In addition, there are various other negative effects, such as leaking confidential corporate files, spreading false facts through social media, and spreading violence and pornographic videos due to easy access to the Internet, and smartphone developers, entertainment companies, and security experts are trying to find ways to solve these problems as well as punish them severely.
Smartphones have become such an integral part of our lives that we can’t keep them out of our hands, even though they are closely connected to our lives and have various effects. In particular, smartphones are causing far-reaching changes not only in individual lives but also in society as a whole. This is affecting everything from personal lifestyles to business models, and it is expected to continue for years to come. As you can see from the data above, the penetration rate of smartphones is very high compared to other devices, and according to many experts, it has the potential to grow even further. Furthermore, as the external entertainment market is expanding due to smartphones, various contents and information are flowing into smartphones, so the outlook for the smartphone market and its external factors is very good. In addition, research and development on solving social problems caused by various smartphones are being conducted.
