BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

By Adam Winograd

My mom raised an interesting point while the two of us were driving on the highway the other day.

“Why do teenagers love to text so much?” she asked. She thought it made much more sense to just call the person if you wanted to talk to them; talking on the phone was a quicker way of relaying information between people and therefore an easier means of communication.

“Sorry, could you repeat that?” I had been texting a friend.

But her point was valid. Teenagers like me and my friends do seem to send text messages far more frequently than they talk to one another. Some adults have been quick to link that habit of texting with other adolescent vices. One recent study, in fact, suggests that frequent teen texters are more likely than their peers to take drugs, drink, or have sex —although I think these concerns are a bit over-the-top.

Here are the reasons I think (for me, at least, as a teen) texting is so prevalent among teenagers like me:

• Texting allows breaks in the conversation. Oftentimes kids will simply want to talk to their friends without a direct agenda or topic they want to discuss. Texting allows for the conversation to develop without awkward pauses where the two people have to try and think of something to say.
• Texting is like sending an email. Kids can leave a message for their friend to read later and respond to at the earliest convenience – the friend may be unavailable at the time the text is sent – but instead of being restricted to a computer, the power of an email can be used anywhere, on the go.
• Text can convey visible emotions, which teens love to express. You can take a picture of your face and send it to a friend, or, more commonly, you can type up an “emoticon” to show how you’re feeling. (Example: <3 = heart, = happy face, :* = kiss, etc.)

Of course, teens have to be careful with texting. I recently rang up a $75 dollar charge for sending 900 more text messages than my phone plan allowed, much to my parents’ chagrin (though I don’t think I’m alone). I have since gotten a texting plan.

Until the next big thing comes along in the world of communication, it seems adults will just have to get used to the fact that teenagers like me prefer texting over talking.

Read about texting while driving at BodiMojo.

How texting can help some aspects of teen health.

Adam Winograd also enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee when he’s not on his phone.