US Census Bureau reports increase in text messaging over past years

New message. A flurry of thumb movements.

According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, there were 62 billion more text messages sent in December 2008 than December 2007. With a 229 percent increase for 2008, text messaging has come to replace phone calls as they rise in popularity.

“People text just to maintain a friendship, see how someone’s doing, or simply out of boredom,” said Stephanie Hicks, a third-year communication studies student.

Silent communication also allows for convenience, said Seungki Baek, a fourth-year communication studies student, who attributes this convenience to asynchronicity, or non-spontaneity.

“People don’t have to reply spontaneously; they can reply a certain person back whenever they want and not be disturbed by anyone,” he said.

As opposed to calling, text messaging permits a perfectible self-presentation.

“People can wait and think about how to construct and tailor their responses while if they were to call someone, others are able to pick up on unspoken cues, like stuttering,” said Steve Peterson, a communication studies faculty member.

Text messaging is also popular with teenagers because it is the type of communication their peers expect.

“If I did choose to call, I’m fully confident that my friends will not answer,” said Leeza Yeretzian, a fourth-year communication studies student.

“It’s not favorable among my friends,” she added.

Of course, expectations are different for each generation.

“If (students) are going to communicate with a grandparent, it’s unlikely they are going to use text messaging,” Peterson said.

Yet text messaging falls one step short to phone calls ““ its lack of emotion.

Because text messaging cannot express complicated feelings, many students still prefer other means of default communication.

“Texting is very impersonal,” said Gilbert Laim, a first-year applied mathematics student.

Baek agreed and said he did not think students should text too much because they will eventually lose their real social network but should instead talk to their friends in person.

Stevenson said text messaging can prove detrimental to reputations as well.

“Quotes are forever recorded”¦ (and) stored on servers,” he said.

Since responses can be recorded, he warned people to be more careful when sending text messages.

“A good example is what happened to Tiger Woods,” Stevenson added. Tiger Woods’ text messages from his mistress catalyzed the discovery of an affair and remain proof of his infidelity.

Yet, though text usage is currently rising faster than ever, Stevenson predicts a change in the future.

He said text messaging will be overtaken by speech-to-text, in which one speaks into a device that types out the message, or another form that allows for immediate communication.

The high rate of text messaging could either indicate society’s high-speed obsession or efficient use of time.

“People have a short attention span, and they’re so used to technology being able to act quickly (that) they want to contact people or get information in the quickest way possible,” Hicks said.

Message sent. Ttyl.

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