The Historical Cultural impact of the Phone Camera by Ella Brereton [fh22e2b]

1. The History of the Phone Camera

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-04 11:33:37 UTC

Once simply a means to communicate via messages or calls, in 1999 Japan released the Kyocera Visual Phone VP-210, a phone marketed as a device to capture photographs.
It wasn't until the early 2000s in which Camera Phones became regularly available and grew in popularity after Nokia released it's first camera phone in 2004.

2. The impact of social media using images and videos

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-04 11:34:12 UTC

3. Citizen Journalism

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4. Privacy in the modern world

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fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-04 17:51:10 UTC

This image was captured earlier however in 1997 by Philippe Kahn, who created a software interface from a digital camera, laptop, LSD display and a Motorola StarTAC flip phone in order to take a photo of his newborn child to share with his family and friends.
This is one of the first reported incidences in which a person's desire to share personal moments combined with technological creativity propelled the technological revolution of camera phones..
A historical insight to the future of photography using mobile phones.
Simon, Hill, A complete history of the Camera phone (digital trends, 2013)
[accessed 8th May 2023]

Samsung 2004 Camera phone

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Why did Camera Phones gain such popularity so fast?

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-04 18:08:44 UTC

We are constantly exposed to advertisements of Camera phones, displaying a hyperbolic representation of the pictures that can be produced using these phones.
Vice president David Hewitt says “What brands like Amazon are doing is starting to light little fires about how these technologies and cloud-based intelligence platforms are creating momentum to take out the friction in our everyday lives, and of course, add delight where they can,” 5
Through such advertisements, companies were able to share these idealistic perceptions of reality through documenting our lives through photography, which then for many became the general allure of social media, a means in which we are able to portray our lives socially through a selective manner.
Koltun, Natalie. 2017. “Smartphone Cameras’ Marketing Potential Comes into Focus,” Marketing Dive [accessed 9 May 2023]

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In 2004, Flixar was popularised for its ability to share images and videos.

Why we share photos on social media.

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-05 18:58:57 UTC

"One important function of personal photography, one that extends its existence as a material prosthesis for personal memory, is the role it plays as an aid to storytelling. "
This article by Lisa Gye sheds light on the social impact of photography, and what drives us to share our photos socially. How this innate human desire to "story tell" is enabled through the platform of social media. It allows us to share our personal memories in a selective manner, and be in control of our personal narrative through our selection of the photographs we share.
Lisa, Gye, Picture This: the Impact of Mobile:Camera Phones on Personal Photographic Practices (Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural StudiesVol. 21, No. 2, June 2007) pp. 279–288

On Photography

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 12:10:25 UTC

On page 88 of Susan Sontag's 'On photography' she writes "nobody takes the same picture of the same thing’, so photographs are evidence not only of what’s there but of what an individual sees, not just a record but an evaluation of the world"
Sontag sheds light on how the photographs we choose to take are a reflection on how we view the world. The differences between people's photographs, and the subject they are photographing can allow you to read the person behind the camera.
Despite this book being published in 1977, its words are more prevalent in today's society due to the invention and popularity of the camera phone and social media. Never before has it been so easy have an insight into someone's "evaluation of the world" by simply looking at their social media, and the images they choose to take and share.
Sontag, Susan. 1977. On Photography (New York, NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux)p.88

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 13:09:14 UTC

"a non-professional journalist working outside traditional media channels; esp. a member of the public using the internet and social media to publish news items or commentary"-
“Home : Oxford English Dictionary.” [n.d.]. Oed.com [accessed 8 May 2023]

Advantages of Citizen Journalism

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 13:20:00 UTC

Camera phones are a large reason why citizen journalism provides our once non existent platform of marginalised members of society.
This photographic "proof" of events captured allows these voices to have validity, which on a larger scale challenges power structures and holds government and powerful members of society accountable.

Disadvantages of Citizen Journalism

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 13:31:15 UTC

With social media and camera phones being available to everyone, citizen journalism can lead to misinformation and propaganda being widely spread.
A relevant example of this is 21st century America, a country strongly divided between the left an the right.
I widened my research into the disadvantages of citizen journalism by watching journalist Louis Theroux's "Extreme and Online" documentary. An episode in which Theroux interviews far right activists who promote an ideology of racism, misogyny and anti-antisemitism, who gained platforms through filming themselves on their camera phones.

Movements propelled by Citizen Journalism.

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 13:40:20 UTC

BLM movement

In May 2020, disturbing images from civilians circled the internet of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Police brutality. This caused worldwide protests, sparking an anti racism movement across the globe.
"This has been happening for years and to finally be able to speak up about it and feel like I'm doing something to help means alot" -quote from female in BLM UK protest captured on an I Phone camera
CBS News. 2021. “Black Lives Matter around the World: The Global Impact of George Floyd,” CBS News [accessed 8 May 2023]

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 15:15:38 UTC

The discrete nature of a phone camera in the wrong hands is a catalyst for invasions of people's privacy.
From people taking intimate photos of others without their consent, to photos circulating the internet without the owner's permission, camera phones have allowed people's privacy to be invaded like never before.

"Upskirting"

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 15:20:48 UTC

"The habit or practice of taking upskirt photographs or videos."
OED
Crimes such as upskirting have become increasingly popular since the invention of camera phones. Below are some statistics from gov.uk that reveal the seriousness of this perverted epidemic.
"Upskirting prosecutions more than doubled over the second year of the legislation being in force, with CPS analysis finding at least a third of offenders are also committing other serious sexual crimes.
In total, 46 men and one teenage boy were prosecuted for 128 offences under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2021"
“UPSKIRTING: Public Urged to Report Offenders as Prosecutions Double.” [n.d.]. Gov.uk [accessed 8 May 2023]

How these crimes made viable through camera phones reflect our societal attitudes

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A shift from the individual to the collective

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-07 15:31:25 UTC

Within the passed two decades, we have seen a large shift from the individual mindset to the collective. We live in a world of surveillance and lack of privacy, meaning intimate moments of our lives become public simply through the click of your camera button.
For the younger generation, this has become the norm, and we are quickly seeing how much more open they are becoming to sharing their life through images.

Conclusion.

fh22e2b1 — 2023-05-09 16:51:45 UTC

Through how rapidly the popularity of camera phones grew, it's clear society is compelled to capture moments of our lives quicker than ever before.
Camera phones are an interesting social artefact in understanding the involvement of media within our lives and how technological developments have pioneered a shift from individual artistic to social democratised photography.