User resistance and repurposing:
a look at the iOS ‘jailbreaking’ scene in
Brazil
Adriana Amaral
University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos - Brazil
Rosana Vieira de Souza
University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos - Brazil
The 14th Annual Conference of the Association of Internet
October 23 - 26, 2013, Denver, CO - USA

• The mobile environment
• Jailbreaking as resistance
• Purpose
• Methods
• Discussion: motivations and critical incidents
• Conclusions
Quick Overview
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• The rise of “closed spaces” in the mobile environment
(Benkler, 2006; Galloway, 2006 and Zittrain, 2008)
• Computer-mediated platforms and the role of mobile
operating systems (e.g. iOS, Android)
• Apple iOS devices (iPod, iPhone, iPad) as highly controlled
spaces
• Handsets tied to a specific carrier
• Third-party apps not allowed
• Users’ strategies to unlock the handset and the desire to run
unofficial apps (out of the official App Store).
The Mobile Environment
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• The practice called ‘jailbreaking’ has emerged in 2007 as
an alternative to Apple’s restrictions
• Jailbreaking allows users to change a device’s operating
system to run a number of applications not approved by
Apple or to open up additional features
• The procedure includes the download of free computer
software that installs a hack onto the device and the
installation of an alternative store called Cydia
• Around 22.8 million jailbroken iOS devices running Cydia
Store (Perez, 2013)
Jailbreaking as Resistance
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• Tools and the iOS hacker communities:
• Redsn0w (by the iPhone Dev Team)
• Spirit and “JailbreakMe 2.0” (by Comex)
• Evasi0n (by Evad3rs)
• Absinthe (by Chronic Dev Team)
Jailbreaking as Resistance
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“JailbreakMe is the easiest way to free your device. Experience
iOS as it could be, fully customizable, themeable, and with every
tweak you could possibly imagine. Jailbreaking gives you control
over the device you own”.
Source: Google
images
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• To discuss the growth of mobile platforms and
the emergence of user counter-power in these
environments;
• To reflect upon jailbreaking practices from the
users’ point of view.
Purpose
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• Qualitative approach and data collected by
• observation of discussion forums (iPhoneMod Brasil Forum);
• in-depth interviews with jailbreakers;
• This preliminary phase of interviews was conducted from
April to June 2013 (24 critical incidents from 12
interviewers):
• motivations for jailbreaking;
• critical events perceived as highly significant for either
success or failure of the practice (Critical Incident Technique,
Flanagan, 1954).
Methods
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• CIT:
Think of a recent situation regarding the jailbreaking
experience with your mobile phone. Describe the
situation and exactly what happened.
1. When did the incident happen?
2. What specific circumstances led up to this
situation?
3. What did you do? (coping strategy do deal with
the event)
Methods
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Source: data
collection
Discussion
Screenshot of jailbroken iPhone Home screen with
personalization app
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1. Users motivations to engage in jailbreaking practices
• High performance handset + freedom to optimization =
experience that resembles the flexibility provided by the
internet;
• Need to extend the device capabilities in order to keep it more
personalized;
• Trade-off: concerns about the high costs of the iOS devices in
the Brazilian market:
• too expensive to risk vs. too expensive for not expanding their
capabilities;
“You stop and think that you pay a lot for something that is not what you
expected, and since Apple does not allow you to perform a ‘test drive’ for
apps, then it is complicated” (Camila, 19)
Discussion
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1.
Critical Incidents
• iOS updates
“I’m always running an older version of the iOS cause it takes time for them [the hacker
community] to crack the program. iTunes keep on asking me for updating but if I
update the version I have in my device I will lose my jailbreak and Cydia” (Breno, 26)
• App failure and unexpected outcomes
“In the jailbreaking world you can never know for sure (…) when I know the app is very
important for my presentations, I need to buy it ‘cause I cannot take the risk of having
an unstable app” (James, 23)
“I consider myself experienced in jailbreaking and it was like a chock” (Camila, 19)
• Now I can, too
“Now I can, too, ‘cause I spent months seeing the games they could play in the US and I
could not” (Alexandre, 17)
“Now I can play the same game as the girls, otherwise, I could not ‘cause my parents do
not allow me to pay for apps” (Laila, 15)
Discussion
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• iOS devices and their networks do not invite user innovation;
• Jailbreaking works as a social counter-power and indicates a
resistance to negative aspects of the market restrictions (control,
lack of flexibility, customization and reinvention);
• It emerges from a free culture logic that legitimates the freedom
to access, distribute or modify content and creative work;
• However, there is a permanent tension and feeling of ambivalence
• In the paradoxical nature of technology (e.g. new / obsolete)
• In the trade-offs the iOS users need to cope with (e.g. stability,
security and control vs. risk of instability and freedom)
Conclusions
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