I havn't had much time to observe how the youth of today use their mobile phones. I've been running between Kenrick library, lectures and the calm of my room...you know how it is. So instead I have taken a slightly different approach to this week's directed study. I have chosen to do an auto-ethnography.   At 20, I may not be classed as a youth, but I'm pretty sure I still carry some traits that those younger than me would possess. For example, I like to use my favourite song as my ringtone. Granted, mine has been the same for about a year, mainly due to laziness, but the case still stands. I havn't done this personally, but a few weeks ago a very talkative girl sat on the bus in front of me had attached some form of 'bling' to the bottom of her phone. I've seen this with miniature tubes of lipgloss and models of cartoon characters, pretty stars, hearts and the like. I suppose personalisation is the key. Looking at my phone with it's original cover and casing, the only thing that makes this phone distinctly mine is the row of 3 stickers on the back.   My phone is also my diary, I use it to write birthdays, notes and also use the alarm as a reminder function. Normally to remind me to wake up for a lecture. My phone is my camera, and my videocamera for when I dont happen to have my digital camera on me.This is normally at gigs...or just to capture that snap of my friend's birthmark on his knee that I happened to have doodled an amusing face on.   Much like Chris last week, if I lost my phone I wouldnt feel quite right. I feel that I fit quite a few of the 5 sections from the reading.   Using a mobile phone as a fashion accessory is not so much my style. Using phones in public is fine. Whilst on the bus, with nothing else to do, I do feel the need to text people to see if they'd like to have a conversation. But for some reason bothering the people around me by having a chat feels rude to me, unless it is necessary. I use my mobile phone for safety - Absolutely! I walk around a lot, specially living so far away from university and with it getting dark so early. I text people when I get nervous, not telling them I'm nervous, just to let someone know I'm still alive.