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72 percent of adults now text

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Sep 2010 9:29 User comments (14)

72 percent of adults now text

According to a new study from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 72 percent of American adults now text from their phones, with 87 percent of teens texting, as well.
Adult texting use is up from 65 percent in September 2009 and 58 percent in the same period of 2007.

While more adults are texting now than ever, they still don't do it very often. Typically, adults only send and receive 10 texts per day. Teens average over 50.

Pew surveyed 2,252 adults earlier this year.

"We’ve reached a point where enough other people are texting that (adults) are drawn into using it because they can finally use it to communicate with a substantial number of their friends and family,"
writes Amanda Lenhart, Pew senior research specialist, via MSNBC.

"It may be that folks have been pushed by pricing into unlimited texting plans, which has the effect of encouraging people with those plans to text more, because they no longer think of the cost, and then text more people more often."

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14 user comments

12.9.2010 21:44

I send about 2 texts a MONTH. Some people are just pathetic, CALL THE PERSON ALREADY.

23.9.2010 00:43

I don't really like speaking to people on the phone when I can avoid it as I have a variation of social anxiety. Why should I call people when it makes me uncomfortable and causes me stress?

33.9.2010 01:32

i have to agree with hikaricor completley, i dont think there is anything wrong with texting

43.9.2010 09:25

who cares. i just farted

53.9.2010 09:46

In most cases, texting is more appropriate than calling. In texting you give the other person some privacy. He or she doesn't have to text back right away, he/she can be in a meeting, sleeping or just plain busy. When he/she is ready then you will get a reply.

63.9.2010 10:18
carlvo
Inactive

Can you please explain to me how sending text messages makes someone "pathetic"? Just because it is not something that YOU choose to do does not mean that I or anyone else who does is pathetic. Pathetic are the ones who worry to much about what other people are doing. To each his own!

73.9.2010 11:43

A couple of years ago I used to hate text messaging but now I do it more than actually talking. It's way more convenient and allows you to multitask while having a conversation at the same time. It also allows you to have multiple unrelated conversations at the same time.

I also think most cell phone companies offer cheaper unlimited texting plans than unlimited minutes.

I have an iPhone with unlimited texting, 500 mins, and unlimited data for only $60 per month. Plus you still get the free mobile to mobile and unlimited night and weekend minutes.

83.9.2010 13:46

You know what the best thing is about texting is? It's (oh wait I just gotta send this..."GUESS WHAT IAMGQ? I FARTED TOO :)"
.... it's that you can multitask when you're talking to people.

93.9.2010 15:25

Originally posted by xnmalletx:
i have to agree with hikaricor completley, i dont think there is anything wrong with texting
Calling is good to converse in real time.
Texting is good too especially when the X is involved: no earache.
At the moment i'm using neither, just a big fat qwerty keyboard to talk to you guys

103.9.2010 15:32

Originally posted by iamgq:
who cares. i just farted[/qu
Originally posted by joepet200:
You know what the best thing is about texting is? It's (oh wait I just gotta send this..."GUESS WHAT IAMGQ? I FARTED TOO :)"
.... it's that you can multitask when you're talking to people.
Well hello ,a facebook conversation just sneeked in.
1000 lines coming to you from TEACHBOOK laddie

114.9.2010 23:35

And guess what, 100% teenagers text and can't live without their cell phones. Like we didn't see this one coming!

127.9.2010 13:01

Originally posted by blueboy09:
And guess what, 100% teenagers text and can't live without their cell phones. Like we didn't see this one coming!
My niece never talks to her friends anymore. She text's them. They all text each other. I think it's bad that our kids are losing the art of conversation.

137.9.2010 22:52
llongtheD
Inactive

Originally posted by ROMaster2:
I send about 2 texts a MONTH. Some people are just pathetic, CALL THE PERSON ALREADY.
I myself prefer to call than text. What really needs to be addressed is that cell providers are ripping people off by charging people that already have data plans when they text.
You pay an extra 15 or 30 bucks a month for a data plan, but that doesn't include text!? Text is just the same transfer of data, why the extra charge? I know this was a little off topic, but had to bring it up.
Ask yourself why they demand a premium for text? Because we are willing to pay. Our willingness to pay keeps text a premium service outside of the data plan.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 07 Sep 2010 @ 11:00

148.9.2010 02:40

nothing wrong with texting.sometimes it can be more convenient.if your going to visit someone and you have a text on your phone telling you the exact address and the time its a lot easier than writing it down and then trying to put it somewhere safe and then trying to find it just before you leave.sick of peoples attitude first it was people bagging facebook and now people bagging texting.if you dont want to use a service thats your choice but dont insult people because they choose to use it.
BTW if i could text the electric company or gas company or basically any company it would be a cheaper than being on hold for 5minutes or longer on a mobile phone.

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