Mom: Where are you?

Austin: Nick’s

Mom: home by 5.

Austin: k

Mom: Don’t be late

Austin: k

This is what a conversation between mother and son has come to.

If that is what one would call it. Nothing more than a few words typed out on a phone. Texting is the main source of communication not only between teenage friends, but it has become popular with parents and their children as well.

Teens 14-17 average 60 texts a day according to Pew Research Center. The messages are usually of little substance. There was a time when parents had an idea about what was going on in their children’s social lives because they could hear their child’s conversation. Now, there is silence as the fingers punch the messages silently into the phone at all hours of the night.

According to The New York Times, concern of psychologists and other experts has gone from worry about cyber-bullying and texting of sexually explicit messages to whether this new craze may be changing kid’s relationships and friendships. More research is needed to see how widespread the phenomenon has gone and the emotional quality of relationships and friendships that are affected, according to the journal “Writing in the Future of Children.”

Jeffrey G Parker, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Alabama, who has been studying children and their friendships since the 1980’s said they were just beginning to look at those aspects of texting.

It is not only teens who instead of having thoughtful conversations but adults as well. Everywhere you go people are texting. The grocery store, the movies, sporting events and as gross as it is sometimes the pounding of the keys can be heard from the stall next to you in the restroom.

Yet, most of the people interviewed expressed a strong dislike for texting.

“I hate texting” said Helen Golden, 54, of Levittown, “I would much rather communicate face to face or at least by telephone.”

Jack Smith, 58, of Levittown , a computer technician ,isn’t fond of texting either, “It takes away the interaction between people which some of us so desperately need” he said.

According to Pew Research Center, 75 percent of people with cell phones use them to text. The poorest nations, Kenya and Indonesia are also texting. According to the center, the mobile plans that are now offered for unlimited texting are what started the boom in texting vs. talking. It was alluring for teens to be able to have their secret conversations without being overheard.

Teens on average text 2,200 messages per month and adults 25-34 only text an average of 331 per month.

“I hate that people expect an instant reply or want to have a long conversation through text. Sometimes I
don’t want to be bothered” said Pamela Matthews, 37, of Levittown, a learning support teacher at Armstrong Middle
School. “I cannot shop, push the cart, keep a list in my head and text all at the same time nor do I want to.”

Cathy Robinson, 47, a quality control analyst from Philadelphia, feels differently.

“Texting has made my life easier. I can text a person when I don’t feel like talking to them. This way I
don’t hurt their feelings and say I don’t feel like talking,” she said.

“Texting is easier. It is simple and to the point. I never make calls from my phone. I use it for texting and internet/Facebook only. Some people can keep you on the phone forever” said Diane Shelley Hunsinger, 38, a data entry operator from Croydon.

Linda Studley, 40 of Levittown, a sales clerk at Sears Hardware said “I text at work and since I work in retail it is more acceptable for me to text rather than talk on my phone on the sales floor. If I am bored I text friends to pass the time.”

This is a topic that generates many mixed emotions.

“No one will get to know the real and unique things about you through a text” said Alicia Dixon, 23, of
Philadelphia, an art major.

“In some cases texting can be confusing. It restricts you from conveying your mood and personality. It also gets
distracting and you get lost in your own little world, not paying attention to what is going on around you. When
it comes to relationships and texting forget it.. You’ll drive yourself nuts trying to determine how someone feels
about you.”

“I think because humans are inherently introverted. When the opportunity presents itself to maintain that distance they
take it. Also, everything present day is concise and emotionless and somewhat faked. From archaic times
we have adapted to our surroundings and this is evidenced by this behavior,” said Christopher Daccardi, 39
of Langhorne, a chemistry major.