buddahj Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A third of U.S. teenagers with cell phones send more than 100 texts a day as texting has exploded to become the most popular means of communication for young people, according to new research. The study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which offers a glimpse into teen culture and communication, found that texting has risen dramatically even since 2008, eclipsing cell phone calls, instant messaging, social networks -- and talking face-to-face. The Pew Research Center said that three-fourths of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 now own cell phones and of those that do, girls typically send or receive 80 text messages per day and boys, 30 per day. "Texting is now the central hub of communication in the lives of teens today, and it has really skyrocketed in the last 18 months," Pew researcher Amanda Lenhart said, attributing the rise in part to payment plans that allow unlimited texting. The study's authors also say that, unlike phone calls, text messaging can be quietly carried out under the noses of parents, teachers or other authority figures and, unlike computers, it can be done almost anywhere. "We've kind of hit a tipping point where now teens expect other teens to respond to text messaging and to be available," Lenhart said. "There is definitely an element of text messaging that fits so seamlessly into their lives." Text messaging has become so much a part of teenagers' lives that 87 percent of those who text said that they sleep with, or next to, their phone. Study author Scott Campbell said focus groups conducted by Pew also offer insight into the subtleties of teen communication and culture, revealing for example that, while boys don't typically use punctuation, for girls such nuances are critical. "If a girl puts a period at the end of a text message (to another girl) then it comes across as she's mad," Campbell said, which explains the prevalence of smiley emoticons. "They have these practices because they've learned that texts can lead to misunderstandings," Lenhart said. "It's a deliberate thing and it's also part of a culture that's interested in differentiating itself from adult culture." The percentage of teens with cell phones who sent at least one text message a day increased from 38 percent in 2008 to 54 percent in September 2009, according to the study. Meanwhile 38 percent of teens said they daily make at least one cell phone call, 30 percent said they talk on a landline phone and 24 percent said they used instant messaging. As the father of 13 & 9 year old girls...I find this to be pretty accurate. I've actually witnessed my oldest & her friends texting each other...in the same room. It seems that the art of conversation is becoming extinct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 who need 2 talk IRL U have cell and who need talk NE more U have TXT! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keggerz Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 just a third? that surprises me...would think it would be much much higher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 OMG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I removed texting from my daughters phone two-three years ago because she was being rude with when and where she was doing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Rookies. Between my wife and 3 of my kids - they sent 22,000+ texts last billing cycle. Two of the older kids have new "cool" phones and my son is very busy chasing two girls right now. It's a phase... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 As the father of 13 & 9 year old girls...I find this to be pretty accurate. I've actually witnessed my oldest & her friends texting each other...in the same room. It seems that the art of conversation is becoming extinct. We got texts from the kids this past Christmas morning asking if it was time to see if Santa had come.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REZ Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 My boys don't text anywhere near what the girl does. She sent ~10,000 last month....the closest boy had 4,0000 I topped out at a whopping 300. and they were all to my kids or wife. None of my friends text even with their kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerx Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 To borrow from another thread, isn't this just another thing that parents in todays' age have to worry about that other generations never had to... or is it not? The crap on TV, the obsession with texting (and sexting)... can't they just write a note, fold it up in a sort of origami way with the "pull here" piece and pass it of a while in school? Honestly though, personally I couldn't stand being a teen these days. Back before this intrusion of technology into our lives... kids could leave school, go home and be kids again. What happened a school, happened a school. You had a break from all that chit once you were home. Now it seems they lead more hectic lives that adults (at times) and they never get a break. I may be speaking without full knowledge (as my girls are too young), but I have watched my nieces and nephews and it just seems "life draining" to be that committed to social networking and status building. Maybe some huddlers with kids in this age range can enlighten those of of that are just around the corner from these type of lifestyle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 To borrow from another thread, isn't this just another thing that parents in todays' age have to worry about that other generations never had to... or is it not? The crap on TV, the obsession with texting (and sexting)... can't they just write a note, fold it up in a sort of origami way with the "pull here" piece and pass it of a while in school? Honestly though, personally I couldn't stand being a teen these days. Back before this intrusion of technology into our lives... kids could leave school, go home and be kids again. What happened a school, happened a school. You had a break from all that chit once you were home. Now it seems they lead more hectic lives that adults (at times) and they never get a break. I may be speaking without full knowledge (as my girls are too young), but I have watched my nieces and nephews and it just seems "life draining" to be that committed to social networking and status building. Maybe some huddlers with kids in this age range can enlighten those of of that are just around the corner from these type of lifestyle... Personally i agree with you, but kids don't know any better and everyone else is doing it so everything seems normal to them. I'm not sure i'll send 4000 texts in my lifetime and i've got another 50 years or so on this planet, god willing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Personally i agree with you, but kids don't know any better and everyone else is doing it so everything seems normal to them. I'm not sure i'll send 4000 texts in my lifetime and i've got another 50 years or so on this planet, god willing. It could take the rest of your life to send 4k texts to yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 OMG! +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 My boys don't text anywhere near what the girl does. She sent ~10,000 last month....the closest boy had 4,0000 I topped out at a whopping 300. and they were all to my kids or wife. None of my friends text even with their kids 10,000. That's roughly 330 a day, every day. Assuming she's awake 16 hours, that's around 20 per hour every waking hour. That's astounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polksalet Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 My nephew (niece's husband) was a freshman at U TN. He sent so many that he lost full range of motion in both thumbs and had to have surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 (edited) it just seems "life draining" to be that committed to social networking and status building. Wow someone else gets it. It's not just that but how they do it too ie tapping away on their little electronic gizmos vs paying attention to where they actually and actually getting together and actually talking n stuff. "Z OMG hehehe" etc etc I hope I die of old age before these people are running the country. Bad enough as it is. Edited April 21, 2010 by BeeR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SayItAintSoJoe Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I think kids are just wasting their lives away sharing every useless and mundane thought they have with others all day via text messages…….man, the irony of that statement just hit me while I was typing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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