Texting Takeover!

Texting has become the governing means of communication for teens all over the world. Teens seem to be texting 24/7, they text while at school, work, at dinner, and here’s a shock even while driving! There is just something about texting that seems to have teens hooked. It is an instant way for them to communicate with their friends and family without the lag time of the outdated methods such as the sending of e-mails, letters, or postcards. Also it allows teen to communicate things that would otherwise make them feel awkward or embarrassed to say in person. Basically texting is a way for teens to feel a sense of belonging, whether it be at school or within their friend group. Research done by the Nielsen Company has shown that teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 text messages per month in 2008— that’s almost 80 messages a day. It is to the point where people have troubles sleeping, completing their homework, and even simply paying attention, because they are constantly thinking about their phone. It is as though texting has even taken the place of actual conversations in our generation. It is crazy to see that people will be sitting two feet away from one another and at the same time they will text one another instead of being vocal. Texting seems to be the way to “stay in the loop” among high school students, because that is how everyone makes plans, asks questions, and cures their boredom. Essentially texting plays a key role in our generation, because it gives us a sense of belonging with our peers. The following link shows great statistics and information on the effect that texting has on teens. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html