'Smartphones' Over 'Food and Shelter': The Reality of Impoverished Singles Paying Telecom Bills Even if it Means Cutting Rent and Food

The "Daredemo Smartphone Research Center (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Tsubasa Takahashi)," which operates a business supporting individuals suffering from telecommunication poverty, conducted a survey regarding the actual living conditions of men and women who "could not own a mobile phone" for a certain period because they could not pass the screening of mobile carriers.

"Food, clothing, and shelter" are cited as indispensable foundations for human life. According to the Family Income and Expenditure Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the proportion of "communication expenses" in the monthly consumption expenditure of a single-person household (average 167,620 yen) is only about 6,948 yen (about 4.1%) (*1). However, when life comes to a dead end, this "mere 4%" expenditure transforms into an entity that greatly dictates the priorities of living.

This survey confirms the reality that many single people who have experienced poverty prioritize "maintaining a means of communication" even if it means cutting back on rent or food expenses. In this article, based on the voices and data of people who have experienced not being able to have a mobile phone, we report on the impact that the loss of communication means has on their lives.

(*1) Reference: Calculated from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "Family Income and Expenditure Survey (Income and Expenditure Edition) Single-person Households 2023" https://x.gd/o5CfD

[The Reality of Prioritizing "Smartphone Bills" Over Rent and Food]

When living expenses reach their limit, there is a modern tendency in the priority of expenditures. In response to the question, "If living expenses become tight in the future, which of the following would you prioritize paying until the very end?", "Smartphone bill (communication expenses)" gathered the most responses at 233 people. This was followed by "Rent" at 150 people and "Food expenses" at 118 people.

The free-text section of the questionnaire collected desperate voices seeking to maintain communication means.

"Living with this priority: 1. Smartphone bill, 2. Rent, 3. Utility bills, 4. Food expenses." "It is the first payment when I get my salary. There are not many things that can be cut in daily life, so I am cutting back on food expenses every day." "In this day and age, a smartphone is a lifeline. I get anxious if I cannot communicate."

This tendency is not due to "smartphone addiction" aimed at entertainment such as watching videos or social media. It indicates the reality of a defense mechanism driven by the desperate desire "never to return to that paralyzing situation again," stemming from the experience of having tasted the despair of social isolation where, because they lost their mobile phones in the past, they couldn't even interview for jobs or consult with the government.

[The Invisible Wall of "Having No Contact Information" Faced by Isolated Singles]

What people who have been forced to cancel their contracts due to non-payment or arrears of mobile phone charges and have lost their means of communication actually face is an environment bordering on the risk of social isolation.

In this survey, when asked about their living situation at the time when they could not pay their mobile phone bills, the most common answer was "Living alone" with 358 people. When making a living becomes impossible while living alone, a means of consulting with a support desk or proving one's identity is required, but the "wall of screening" stands in the way, making it impossible to sign a new mobile phone contract due to a history of arrears in communication charges.