teen news from AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2007
SocietyTexting Teens on the Rise
All over the world, in an ever-growing trend, teenagers are texting and sending instant messages to communicate with their friends, rather than interacting and talking to each other. With rapidly expanding websites such as MySpace and Facebook, teens are becoming skilled typists. On average, a recent survey revealed that teens spend almost three hours per day on the Internet, and they use their cellphones to text a friend more often than to make a phone call.
Teens of all ages, and even young children, are using the Internet and cellphones on a daily basis. Communicating through electronic devices changes the way teens interact with each other. No longer do teens ride their bicycles to a friend’s house to enjoy playing a board game; rather, they visit their friend’s home only to be in separate rooms to chat online!
Teens are quite involved in new technology and various forms of communication, which mostly involves instant messaging. The number of teens who use the Internet has grown 24 percent in the last four years. Of youth between the ages of 12 and 17, 87 percent have Internet access. Sixty-seven percent of teenagers say they have a cellphone and use it for text messaging. On average, these teens spend an hour a day texting their friends.
Several states are considering implementing a ban on texting or using cellphones while driving. Although this may be difficult for authorities to enforce, some feel it is necessary to construct a ban for increased public safety and awareness.
New York was the first to ban cellphone use while driving, and is now trying to ban texting as well. Oregon already has a ban, and Washington will implement one on January 1, 2008.
The number of teens who drive and use their cellphones is staggering and authorities are concerned they have become a huge distraction.
Besides being a distraction while driving, cellphones are also used to cheat on tests and exams. In Detroit, all cellphones have been banned from schools. In Los Angeles, cellphones are permitted in school, but only during breaks.
Since text messaging is instant, teens often do not realize that once they hit “send,” their deepest thoughts, personal information or inappropriate pictures can be sent around the world within seconds. This presents its own problems. Quite often people are hurt.
Teens have lost the skill of how to hold a proper conversation. As they become less social, and are trained in not looking someone in the eye when talking, what will happen when they are faced with real problems?