Mobile phone appropriation in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mobile phone use in Rio de Janeiro's favelas reveals subversive tactics shaped by cyclic power dynamics between high- and low-income populations. Residents navigate economic barriers through illegal or creative means, highlighting how technology adoption in marginalized communities transcends simple access issues. The study suggests future research should focus on the nuanced relationship between people and technology rather than binary access frameworks.

de Souza e Silva, A., Sutko, D. M., Salis, F. A., & de Souza e Silva, C. (2011). Mobile phone appropriation in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. New Media & Society, 13(3), 411–426. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444810393901