Teens prefer texting to talking

Patti - posted on 06/19/2010

Before I got my cell, my kids and I would "old school text". We would write notes back and forth to each other. Im fine with it. Anything to keep them talking to you. I have even used texting to bring up touchy subjects with my husband. That way neither of us can get caught up in emotions and nothing is said in haste. I use it to my benefit.

Sherri - posted on 06/16/2010

See I so prefer texting I probably text 500+ a month where I only spend maybe an hr or two on the phone a month.

Nicole - posted on 06/16/2010

i think that its not just a teenage thing im 35 n I have come across a lot of people who feel like texting is better then talking. I personally think its ok sometimes but you need to pick up the phone and call me from time to time

TONI - posted on 06/16/2010

TEXTING IS GREAT!! PERFECT WAY TO REALLY GET INFO FROM YOUR KIDS!! THATS WHAT THEY LOVE DOING, AND THEY WILL BE MORE OPEN IF YOU ARE TEXTING THEM BACK!! YOU MAY GET A LOT MORE INFO FROM THEM BY CATERING TO THE ONE THING THEY LOVE TO DO!! TEXTING!! MY SIXTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LOVES TO TEX!! I JUST TX HER RIGHT BACK!!!

Fadette - posted on 05/12/2010

I think that they find it easier to express themself via text .my daughter would text me whenever she wants to tell me something which she felt shy to talk about.

Marisa - posted on 05/10/2010

thanks for the article. My daughter loves to communiate via talking, texting, however she can get the word out quick enough! She is a social butterfly and with her own phone she loves her unlimited texting. We have rules that all phones are off at 7:00 PM, and no texting in the car when I am driving. No texting during homework time or dinner hour. It goes off. She can have a conversation with me when she is with me. Anyway I can get that personal mommy time I will take it.

Telika - posted on 05/09/2010

i text alot too,and my son txts me,his phone is not locked and i do have access to his txts if i have a feeling something isnt right,its just the new trend,but make sure you dont send the person that you're talking about the txt,lol good luck

Sherri - posted on 05/08/2010

My boys 13 & 11 1/2 aren't allowed to have cell phones yet. They aren't ever without a parent or adult so I feel they have no need. However, I LOVE to text like the phone for longer conversations but I text constantly rather than pick up the phone.

Ruth - posted on 05/06/2010

I think texting is a great way to connect but face to face is still important. I text my kids all the time. I do think their grammar, spelling, and real conversation skills can suffer if texting is the only form of communication. As soon as I noticed that my daughter was having trouble talking to people I pushed her to communicate better. She would ask me to order for her when we went out to eat and didn't like making phone calls so I stopped doing those things for her. I would even ask her to make calls for me to help her get more comfortable. I also bought a phone with a keyboard for her and encourage her to use proper spelling and grammar when she sends text messages to me.

Tanya - posted on 05/05/2010

My daughter txt's all the time. However, she won't carry one a conversation w/ me, thank goodness! Usually short and to the point. I like a conversation but txting has it's benefits. My view on it is that children that txt all the time will have some social difficulties conversing with people. I had her call information a few weeks ago. She dialed the number then handed it to me and told me she didn't know what to say. Prime example. I'm curious to know how English teachers see it affecting writing examples and assignments.

Shaylynn - posted on 05/05/2010

Susan...I always prefer a conversation with my sons as well. I have explained to them, the context in which a statement is intended can be confused or taken inappropriately if done via electronic means and can ultimately destroy a perfectly good relationship, whether it be a professional or personal one. The technological age is amazing & I completely encourage my children to use it to educate themselves, but with the same token...it seems, youth nowadays are becoming numb to personal interaction & are often clueless when they find themselves in a social setting which requires conversational etiquette.

Susan - posted on 05/05/2010

I often text my boys asking them to call me because like you I would prefer a conversation but they don't always answer the phone. I just posted something on my facebook page though saying how bothered I am by these kids using texting and facebook to end a relationship. Even if the relationship is primarily a texting one I have told my boys when you end any relationship you do it in person.

Shaylynn - posted on 05/04/2010

My 15 year old son and I have an amazing relationship with open communication BUT...when he misbehaves and I implement discipline he doesn't agree with, and becomes angry. He will text me to start the conversation, but will approach me when he has calmed down. I think it's great, however I do agree with Cindy L, they should know it's not 'the only way'.

Katrin - posted on 05/04/2010

my 13year old son would be embarrassed to talk to me about personal or emotional things at times, he is far more comfortable to text me than to talk to me on those occasions. I think he often feels he could hurt my feelings so rather than looking at me we have text conversations. that's more than fine with me, his Dad isn't the best person to open up to emotionally so I'm happy, that we have some way he feels secure with talking to me. I think there is a certain distance as well texting. you're more likely to come to the point, not hold back as you might do in a face to face conversation. the recipient can communicate back when it suits, it's much easier to say "no" if the other person is not expectantly staring at you....

Nicki - posted on 05/01/2010

we have entered the texting stage my 16 yr old would rather text me instead of talking to me which im finally ok with at least she is keeping in touch with me while im working or when she is out with her friends she tells me she gets bored talking on the phone well to be quite honest so do i after about a 5 minute conversation what else do you talk about? the weather hahahaha

Julie - posted on 04/29/2010

I feel the same way I have two older children and they both text like crazy and I can not understand it does not make any since to me and all of there friends also I think that the world has gotten way to fast paced we need to figure out a way to slow our children down

Ashley - posted on 04/29/2010

I think the biggest reason is that, especially for young teens, they don't want their close friends to know that they are talking to Mom or Dad. Let's be honest here, kids are brutal one one another and if you and your children are a close knit family, communication between one another is very important. The problem today is that there are so many kids that want to break those ties from their disfunctional family, and to hear another kid talking verbally to their parent, the harrassment comes out with verbal slings and arrows. So just be loving and answer the texting and know that as long as they are texting you, that communication is still the one that says...I LOVE YOU MOM!!

Judy - posted on 04/29/2010

Texting is a valuable tool for quick communications. To the point, no going off on tangents. They can communicate with several people at a time. Will never replace face to face human contact and I don't think it is meant to. If it starts to do that then it becomes a problem. It is the way of the world now.

Karla - posted on 04/29/2010

my kids will openly text me something, that they may hesitate telling me face to face. I think it helps them communicate tough situations easier.

Jane - posted on 04/28/2010

Ya know, I'm 51 years old, but I've been in the Information Technology (both in a technical role supporting servers and in management) field for 27 years and I LOVE texting rather than talking. I also love emailing rather than talking. My kids are huge text-ers (20 and 16) and that's how we communicate when we're not in the same place. For those people that are not comfortable with technology, I can understand the reluctance to texting. Some people just like talking on the phone. I've never liked it so when texting and email were the wave...I went right into head first and didn't turn back.

Erin - posted on 04/26/2010

txting is a great way for the kids to stay in touch with one another and works well for me to keep track of my son. I do get alittle tired of him always looking at that stupid phone, but it works. And it is a great incentive to behave, he just hates when it is taken away! Its like I have broken all of his connections or something! So use it to your advantage!

Aramanth - posted on 04/25/2010

I HATE talking on the phone with a passion. I would much rather text than talk (I think it's part of my depression since I tend to isolate). So texting works for me. My teen daughters use either quite comfortably, but they do text me when they get out of school and when they get picked up as they know I worry (we live a ways from their school and I can't drive so I can't collect them). Our Plan allows us free texting between our phones on the same network so texting also saves us money!

Cindy - posted on 04/25/2010

I think texting is a great way to communicate but not the only way. There are times my kids feel more comfortable sending me a text rather than actually saying something out loud. I've also stressed to them that it's not the only way to go and it's really nice to hear a voice on the other end of the phone. :)

Ellen - posted on 04/24/2010

I think technology is changing and we have to keep up with the times. If a majority of the kids are texting and it helps keep the communication between you and your child open, then text away! Texting has certainly helped me keep in communication with both of my kids.