Decades ago, teens in the classroom communicated by passing notes between desks. Today, cellphones and text messaging serve that purpose. According to a 2012 survey by the Pew Research Center, 63 percent of teens surveyed send text messages daily, and the average teen cellphone user sends up to 60 messages daily. Teen texting can lead to distraction in class, cyberbullying and accidents on the road. Despite those potential problems, teen texting does have advantages.
Relief of Introversion
Introverted teens might have difficulty engaging in conversation, approaching others or maintaining friendships. Text-messaging removes many of the discomfort of social interaction for teens. Teens don’t have to make eye contact or even be in the same room as the person they’re texting, so it’s much more comfortable for them, especially if they feel judged for the way they look. Texting and instant-messaging can boost well-being, too. According to a study in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, participants felt a 20 percent reduction in their anger, distress or sadness after having a conversation via instant message.
Less Embarassment
Many teens are painfully afraid of saying the wrong thing or looking foolish in front of their friends. Text-messaging allows teens to think about what they want to say before they say it. Teens might feel freer to express emotions that they wouldn’t in person. This is usually beneficial for teenagers, but unfortunately, some teens take advantage of the anonymity of texting to send rude and harassing messages.
Quick Communication
Teens often have jam-packed schedules filled with classes, extracurricular activities, dates and after-school jobs. They don’t always have time to make a phone call to family or friends. Text-messaging enables teens to get right to the point of what they need to say instead of spending time on small talk. Parents might want teens to notify them when they arrive at a friend’s house, for example, but most teens don’t want to waste time calling mom and dad. With text messaging, teens can notify parents of their safe arrival quickly and discreetly.
Emergencies
If a teen gets in a car accident, for example, his cellphone would allow him to get emergency assistance. Text-messaging enables teens to notify many people at once of the emergency rather than taking the time to call one person for help at a time. This increases the chance that someone will respond and offer aid.
Texting
Texting occupies a middle ground between email and instant messaging. Short Message Service messages are limited to 160 characters, so they can never be as long an extended email. Furthermore, SMS messages are delivered to cell phones. This may enable you to reach somebody quicker than via email, depending on her cell phone habits. Text messages are different from email and instant messaging in that text messages do not require an Internet connection. Lastly, SMS is valuable for communication with databases from your phone; in some locations, you can easily share information like public transportation schedules and weather forecasts through text messages.
Instant Messaging
Instant messaging services vary by platform, but they always require an Internet connection. Typically, IM services only allow you to connect with people who are using the same service, though some allow you to connect with competing services. Once connected, you can have a real-time chat with any of your contacts who are logged on at the same time. Because the other user is also logged in, instant messaging services are usually much more immediate than email or texting. AOL Instant Messenger, Apple’s iMessage and the Internet call service Skype are three of the most widely-used IM services.
Texting has many advantages in modern age
Many great inventions have come out of the Industrial Revolution, including the cellphone with its great advantage – texting.
Texting is a boon to modern life as it makes communication simpler in this fast, ever-changing modern world.
The fast and simple quality of texting is one of its major benefits.
It is very easy to get distracted while calling.
Or we can zone out and stop focusing on the person speaking, possibly missing important details.
In addition, if we are unable to reach a person, we can be completely unprepared when we reach voicemail, stuttering and saying the wrong thing or again leaving out important details.
When we send a text, however, we can check it for details and know it will be seen at some point.
Another reason why texting is a boon to modern life (especially teen life) is that it is cheap.
At only 20c or less to send a message, we don’t hesitate to send all the texts we need – and we’re able to spend our money on other items.
Proof-checking our words – are there times we wish we could take back what we’ve just said?With texting, we can backspace and change what we are going to send so that our message includes all the details and makes sense.
It also avoids the unintentional accidental spilling of a secret like a birthday present!Being able to change sentences also prevents us accidentally offending someone.
This is very useful as phrasing and meanings are ever-changing, with words gaining, through wide use, nuances that are different from the dictionary sense.
While texting is a big bonus for our generation, it has sadly made it easier for bullies to hurt others.
It enables these cowards to send malicious messages to their victims while remaining anonymous.
They cower behind their phone. But bullies will find all sorts of ways to hurt others – texting is just the latest.
And just because some people misuse technology, it doesn’t mean that all will.
Texting is like many other features of technology. It is only good if used correctly and with good intent.
Texting is now taken for granted.
It’s an integral part of our lives. Its low cost and convenience have increased both the volume of social interaction and our sense of connectedness.
Some disadvantages have emerged but if everyone respects texting, it can be positive for all.