Is your tween a texting addict?
R U ready 4 Tween Tuesday? Liz Atwood wants to know about your tween's texting habits:
A new Pew Research study found that text-messaging among teens and tweens has skyrocketed in the past 18 months. The study found that three-quarters of kids ages 12-17 use cell phones and that texting is the preferred method of communication. These texters average 50 texts a day – older girls text on average a 100 times a day. More than half of them have sent a text message during class.
I saw a CNN report on this study that featured a number of tweens and teens who admitted to be addicted to texting. My boys have their issues with video games. Currently, we’re under a video game embargo at my house because they have been overdoing the games at the expense of their studies. But texting is not something either one likes to do. Both of them have phones that they rarely use. I’m not sure why my boys who love the Xbox and computer aren’t into texting, but I’m glad that’s one behavior I don’t have to monitor.
Is your tween part of the texting revolution? Have you had to set limits on how much your tween texts?
Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis
Comments
My tweens have a pay-as-you-go Tracfone that they use in situations when a phone might not be available or convenient. No texting allowed. Since I check the minutes used on the phone fairly regularly, phone use is easy to monitor. My cell phone is also a Tracfone that I use maybe once a week
Also, I am a middle school teacher in the local public schools. I confiscate on average 1 cell phone a day, mostly from girls texting during class. What is startling is the number of smart phones and iphones these kids have. Why does a 6th grader need a $200 iphone?
Posted by: PghSteve | April 27, 2010 6:59 AM
My 14 year old and I both have unlimited texting through Verizon. I don't use it much, but she is definitely addicted. I think the teens text so the parents can't hear what is being said and to avoid tieing up their phones. Three text conversations at one time is not unusual, although I don't know HOW she keeps them straight. She would easily hit 100 texts a day if she didn't also have internet chat through Facebook. However, she has kept up her grades (I think, report cards come out on Monday) and does chores and everything else that is expected. If the grades slip, the phone is MINE!
Posted by: Mar | April 27, 2010 12:04 PM