By Jace Galloway-Shoemaker
Texting is a form of wireless communication where users send or receive short, digital messages electronically. Texting is also known as SMS (Short Message Service). Although the bulk of texting is done via mobile-to-mobile devices, websites and companies are also jumping on the bandwagon. Some companies allow users to “web text” by sending and receiving text messages to mobile devices from their computers. Many provide the service for free.
Text messaging is an extremely popular method of communication. CTIA-The Wireless Association®, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, reported that over 48 billion text messages were sent in a one-month period in 2007, which averages 1.6 billion messages per day.
Who Is Texting?
Statistics show that texting is not just for kids. According to the Pew Internet Project’s December 2007 survey, 31 percent of American adults send or receive text messages every day, while 60 percent of young adults text daily.
The world of texting is putting a new spin on traditional events:
- Samsung Telecommunications America reports 61 percent of Americans, if given the chance, would prefer to vote in presidential elections via text messaging.
- Quantas, an Australian airline, will begin a trial period of in-flight text messaging and Air New Zealand may soon follow. In-flight texting would allow passengers to keep in touch with loved ones on the ground without disturbing fellow passengers in cramped quarters.
- In an effort to better communicate with the community, the Boynton, Florida, Police Department launched the “Citizen Observer Program”. By registering online, citizens can receive emergency alerts on their wireless phones. And texting is a two-way street for this department; citizens can text tips to police. Police departments in Boston, Louisville, Seattle, Kansas City, and other major cities are also using text messaging to augment law enforcement efforts.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in partnership with law enforcement agencies and participating wireless carriers, now issues Wireless AMBER Alerts. Through this free service, wireless phone subscribers are able to receive an urgent child-abduction bulletin in the form of a text message (see http://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/)
What Does a Text Message Look Like? Using Text Speak
If you’ve never texted before, don’t worry – you don’t need to know a special “texting language” in order to send messages. Plain English (or whatever language you’re using) works just fine. However, because the maximum length of a text message is 160 characters (letters, numbers, symbols), many people do rely on abbreviations when they text, so that they can say more in less space. This abbreviated form of language is often referred to as “text speak.”
Text speak “words” are often actual phrases—for example, laugh out loud—reduced to letters: LOL. Vowels, consonants, and entire words are often omitted (“thanks” becomes thx, and “can’t talk” becomes CT). Numbers are used in place of words (sexy becomes 6Y). There are numerous text speak translators and converter tools available online.
Text Speak Examples:
LOL Laugh out loud
TTFN Ta-ta-for-now
BBL Be back later
THX Thanks
ILU or 143 I love you
BF or B/F Boyfriend
GF or G/F Girlfriend
6Y Sexy
CT Can’t talk
DL or D/L Download
L8R Later
2 To, Too or Two
SRY Sorry
HW Homework
LGH Let’s Get High
POS Parents over shoulder
LMIRL Let’s meet in real life
2 Text or Not 2 Text?
Can you keep your child/student from texting, and should you? Might you benefit from texting, or at least from learning how to text? To make informed decisions, parents and educators need to be aware of the positive and negative aspects of text messaging.
Positive Aspects:
- Talking and email take time – text messages are short and instantaneous
- Conversing via phone requires quiet – texting works in crowded or noisy environments
- Wireless phone ring tones and conversations disturb others in public places – text messages are silent and non-intrusive
- Texting may boost confidence for those who are shy or don’t like face-to-face or voice-to-voice interaction
- Overworked multitaskers often lose touch with friends and family – texting helps people stay in touch because it’s so quick and effortless
- Long distance phone calls get expensive – a text message can be cheaper
- Texts can work as message reminders (birthdays, anniversaries, to-do lists)
- Text messages deliver quick updates on news and weather
- School systems, police departments, and government agencies are increasingly using texting as a way to relay emergency notification
Negative Aspects:
- Because of possible disruptions and academic dishonesty, many schools prohibit wireless phone usage during school hours.
- Cyberbullying is a rapidly growing trend that can have serious consequences. Electronic bullying is accomplished through any type of electronic device, including cell phones.
- Many children do not tell a trusted adult if they are bullied electronically.
- Texting while driving or crossing the street can be dangerous – the risk seems obvious, but many teens/tweens do text while driving and walking. A 2007 American Automobile Association study found, for example, that 46 percent of 16- and 17-year-old drivers send text messages while driving.
- There are some concerns that text speak will negatively impact children’s writing and grammar skills. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, over 60 percent of American teenagers admit that they include some form of texting in their school work.
- “Sexting” is the sending of provocative or explicit text messages or photographs using wireless devices. From flirtatious messages to nude photographs, sexting is a growing concern. Often, the racy photos or messages are disseminated to others.
- Depending on the phone plan, text messaging costs can be prohibitive. Some plans charge a flat rate for each text message sent or delivered while other mobile phone carriers offer unlimited texting for a set monthly fee. If texting is done sporadically, the flat rate may be a better option. Text messaging can be blocked on many services.
- Texting may be more impersonal than face-to-face or voice-to-voice conversations, and young people may use texting as a form of emotional avoidance.
- Typing on a mobile device may be difficult for some users due to the size of the keypad or typing can be arduous.
- A 2006 survey from Virgin Mobile reported nearly 4 million people in the UK reported numbness or pain in thumbs, fingers or wrists from text-related injuries.
What’s a Parent or Educator 2 Do?
The negatives seem to outweigh the positives, but texting seems to be here to stay, at least until something even quicker and “cooler” takes its place. Parents and educators can’t afford to ignore the practice or wish it away. Before allowing your child to text or making school policy regarding texting, make sure you feel well-informed and ready to set clear guidelines. Education, awareness and communication are crucial.
TECH TIP FOR PARENTS
Want addresses, locations, or phone numbers without paying for 411? You can text the name of a business or restaurant to GOOGL on your wireless phone keypad (that’s google without the “E”), and it will look up the information and text it to you. Free, from Google, but you may have to pay for incoming or outgoing text messages.
For more information:
http://www.nsteens.org/
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Jace Shoemaker-Galloway is the Regional Office of Education #26 Internet Safety Coordinator. What began three years ago as an interest and hobby has become a full-time career and passion. To date, she has educated over 750 children with personalized curriculums she created. She also educates parents and teachers. She is Chairperson of a team of community leaders she assembled, the Macomb Online Safety Team (M.O.S.T.) and is a regular newspaper columnist for the Macomb Journal.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
This information is valuable. I plan to post the 4NetSafety.com on the character education and guidance counselor listserv sites.
February 5th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
No problem. If you don’t have an RSS reader, there are a number of RSS Readers including your Google home page, Pageflakes (http://www.pageflakes.com/), and RSS Reader (http://www.rssreader.com/)
Assuming you have an RSS reader, to sign up for RSS feeds, simply visit the bNetS@vvy home page - http://www.bnetsavvy.org - and scroll down toward the bottom of the page. In the lower right hand corner, click on the orange box next to the sign that says Get Headlines. Once you’ve clicked on that box a new page will open up. Copy the Address at the top of the page - http://bnetsavvy.org/wp/feed/ - into your RSS reader and viola! Please let us know if you have any RSS issues.
February 11th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
great info here thanks alot i am doing something for school!
September 9th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
well there is many useful info here but many people will still ignore. most teens if they came across this article they would simply just say “whatever” and go about there business. until the matter is surpressed things wont change, unfortunetly