A new Pew Internet and American Life Project study has found that teen texting has climbed dramatically since 2008. Reuters reports that the study found texting is now the prime means of communation for teens. The Pew study claims teens text more than they make phone calls, instant messag,e use social networks and even talk in person. The study found that 75% of young people aged 12 and 17 own cell phones. Girls send or receive and average of 80 text messages per day and boys send or receive an average of 30 text messages per day.
"Texting is now the central hub of communication in the lives of teens today, and it has really skyrocketed in the last 18 months," Pew researcher Amanda Lenhart said, attributing the rise in part to payment plans that allow unlimited texting.
The study's authors also say that, unlike phone calls, text messaging can be quietly carried out under the noses of parents, teachers or other authority figures and, unlike computers, it can be done almost anywhere.
"We've kind of hit a tipping point where now teens expect other teens to respond to text messaging and to be available," Lenhart said. "There is definitely an element of text messaging that fits so seamlessly into their lives."
Teens who text have their phones with them always. The study found that 87 percent of teens who text sleep with their cell phones. Punctuation in text messages is nearly non-existant in teen boy text messages. Girls use a lot of emoticons to convey emotion, but they will use punctuation to show they are upset. The Pew study found that when a teen girl puts a period at the end of a text message (to another girl) it means she is mad.
