Teen texting trends
Half of teens send 50 or more text messages a day, or 1,500 texts a month, and one in three send more than 100 texts a day, or more than 3,000 texts a month.
15 percent of teens who text send more than 200 texts a day, or more than 6,000 a month.
Boys typically send and receive 30 texts a day, compared to 80 for girls.
Texters ages 12-13 typically send and receive 20 texts a day.
14- to 17-year-old texters typically send and receive 60 texts a day.
Older girls who text are the most active, with 14- to 17-year-old girls typically sending 100 or more messages a day, or more than 3,000 texts a month.
While many teens are avid texters, a substantial minority are not. One-fifth of teen texters send and receive 1-10 texts a day.
Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project research
Tips for establishing texting boundaries
Carefully evaluate whether your child really needs to text on his/her cell phone.
Get an unlimited texting plan if your kids do text. Charges can add up quickly.
Decide when and where texting is allowed. For example, no texting during meals, class or family outings, and the phone must be turned off at a certain time.
Establish consequences for misuse such as cheating and inappropriate messages.
Watch your own behavior. If you text your kid during class and tell your kid that he or she can’t do that, you send a mixed message.
Source: www.commonsense media.org
The law of nature dictates that parents and kids will always have trouble communicating with each other. But by embracing today’s technology, parents may be able to “text” their way to a connection with their kids.
“Texting is the primary use of cell phones,” said Caroline Knorr, parenting editor of CommonsenseMedia.org.
“I text quite often, more often than I talk on the phone, mainly because I have unlimited texting,” said Kristie Lickliter, Wright State University graduate. “Texting makes it easier to get to someone because it is usually easier or quicker or more convenient for the other person to respond. Likewise, if it is not too important or needs an immediate response, and I am busy, I will get the text and be able to respond later.”
One third of U.S. teens text more than 100 times a day, according to Pew Internet and American Life Project research.
Pew found that text messaging is by far the most common way that kids communicate with each other, more than chatting on the phone, e-mailing, using social-networking sites, or talking face to face, according to a survey and focus groups with teens ages 12-17.
“Teens have fully embraced the technology,” said Laura Merritt, public relations manager with Verizon in Columbus, noting that its popularity is also increasing in other demographics.
According to Merritt, in the second quarter of this year, Verizon customers sent or received more than 180 billion texts whereas in 2005 in the same quarter, Verizon customers sent or received 4.6 billion texts.
Drew Olanoff, director of community at Textplus.com, said texting may not be a new technology, but it is definitely the preferred form of communication.
“It’s instant, and it’s in your pocket. Even if someone hasn’t replied, you know that it’s been delivered,” Olanoff said.
Teens are texting to set up social interactions, according to Olanoff.
“Parents think it is anti-social, but kids are using it to set-up social interactions; it’s only anti-social for the person who is left out, which is usually the parent,” Olanoff said.
Parents are trying to be included in their kids’ texting world, Merritt said.
“A lot of parents who do text say it is the best way to communicate with their kid. ‘I call, but they won’t answer, but if I text, I get a text back right away.’ Why? Texting is less intrusive,” Merritt said.
But because texting is so quick and easy, it can easily get out of control.
According to a national survey of more than 2,500 11th and 12th graders, which Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) commissioned ORC Guideline to conduct, one is three teen drivers say they often text while they drive and 56 percent say they do it at least sometimes.”
According to a survey of 1,214 teens, ages 13-17, conducted by Textplus.com, “42.5 percent of those surveyed text during class; 73.8 percent said it was not wrong to text in class; 66.2 percent said their parents have texted them during school hours.”
To keep texting under control, parents need to set limits.
“Parents have to be role models for their kids with their own use of cell phones and technology and set clear boundaries,” Knorr said. “Parents need to teach kids how to use the best of technology and avoid the worst.”
Parents can set time restrictions, block content with content filters based on age, data usage, texting, e-mail addresses, picture and video messaging and numbers, Merritt said.
“Usage controls allow parents to manage how and when the child is using the cell phone,” Merritt said. “Parents do have control; it’s not just handing the phone over to a kid and hoping the kid handles it wisely.”
Apps can block texting once a vehicle has exceeded five to 10 mph, Merritt said.
“Parents need to understand that cell phones are powerful tools, and information on the cell can be uploaded to the Internet, and a text that a child might think is private can easily become public,” Knorr said. “Parents can set limits by working with cell phone providers or use parental controls available on the cell to limit texting.”
Parents can focus on the “good stuff” about texting such as “texts can keep friends close; help parents figure out family logistics; and share experiences with family and friends.” The “bad stuff” includes harrassing others, sexting or cheating in class, Knorr said.
The University of Dayton is focusing on the good by connecting with students via text messages.
Kevin Schultz, social media coordinator in Enrollment Management, said texting is driving students back to their Virtual Orientation (vo.udayton.edu), which is a site that allows first-year students to become a part of UD before arriving on campus.
Schultz said that students can sign up to receive text messages notifying them of important deadlines and dates and updates that can be fully read at the Virtual Orientation site. Once the text messages have been sent, there is an immediate spike in traffic to the site, Schultz said.
“Over 75 percent of the first-year students have opted to receive the text messages,” Schultz said. “It’s a quick, short format, and students respond to it very well.”
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