Texting: The Communication Preference of Every Teen You Know

Over the past two years there have been several national studies regarding the growing popularity of text messaging. In January 2010, the Kaiser Family Foundation released data from the third wave of its ongoing "Generation M²: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18- Year- Olds study," and the Pew Internet and American Life Project, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, released the findings of its "Teens and Mobile Phones" study in April 2010. Highlights from both studies are summarized below.

Ten years ago, approximately two percent of all U.S. residents communicated via text messaging.  

Five years ago, slightly more than half of all U.S. teenagers relied on texting as their primary form of communication.  

Today, texting is the preferred form of communication for 72 percent of all teenagers. For teens, texting has overtaken the frequency of every other form of communication, including face-to-face interactions.  

In the span of nineteen months (February 2008 - September 2009) the number of teens who reported daily text messaging increased by 16 percent. Among 7^th-12^th graders, the average amount of time spent sending and receiving texts is about an hour and a half per day. One might wonder how teens can send 100+ texts each day and still manage to attend school and sleep. Part of the answer lies in the fact that a startling percentage of students are texting throughout the school day. At schools where cell phones are completely banned, 65 percent of the students who own cell phones bring them to school. Regardless of school regulations, 64 percent of cell-owning teens have texted during class.

Texting throughout the overnight hours also contributes to the high number of texts sent by teenagers. More than four in five teens sleep with their cell phone on or near their bed and send and respond to texts throughout the night. Of the teens surveyed in the Pew study, 78 percent of 12 and 13 year-old cell-owners had slept with their phones next to them, a percentage that rose to 86 percent among teens age 14 and older.   

In a world where unlimited texting packages exist and the resulting cell phone bills are 20+ pages in length, parents may find it difficult-or downright daunting-to keep thorough tabs on who and when their child is texting. The need for parental oversight is evident, especially in light of the Pew study findings that showed 26 percent of cell-owning teens had been bullied or harassed through text messages and phone calls, and 15 percent had received a sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude image of someone by text. When parents in the Pew study were asked if they regulated their child's cell phone use, the responses were mixed. While 46 percent of parents limited the number of minutes their child could talk on their cell phones, only 28 percent limited the number of text or other messages their child could send and receive. Slightly more than half of all parents set limits on the times of day their child could use their phone, and 64 percent said they had looked at the contents of their child's cell phone. Survey findings show that limiting a child's texting does correlate to lower levels of inappropriate texting behavior among teens. Teens with established texting limitations are less likely to regret a text they sent or send sexually suggestive texts. They are also less likely to be passengers in cars where someone texts while driving.

Almost all teachers are faced with the reality that their students are texting during class time. The Oklahoma City Public Schools district has taken steps to actively involve both parents and teachers in cell phone regulation on school grounds. According to the Wireless Telecommunications Device policy in the Oklahoma City Public Schools 2011-12 Student Parent Handbook, "[...] a student may possess a wireless telecommunications device while on school premises, or while in transit under the authority of the school, or while attending any function sponsored or authorized by the school. The District prohibits such wireless communication devices from being turned on and/or able to send or receive communications during the instructional day." The policy goes on to say that students found to be using any device for any illegal purposes or to send and receive messages that would contribute to or constitute cheating will be disciplined and that their phone will be confiscated until a parent conference is held. The students will also be prohibited from carrying their communication devices following the first incident "unless a bona fide health emergency exists."   

Common Sense Media is a national non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by providing helpful information and education on media and technology. Their website features several articles regarding the topics of teenage texting and cell phone ownership. Links to a selection of articles have been provided below:   

When Should You Get Your Kid A Cell Phone?

Kid's First Cell Phone

Advice for Parents: Responsible Text Messaging Tips 

Educate Parents About Cell Phones and Digital Communication  

PO Box 837 Oklahoma City, OK 73101