Text-messaging teens are a big problem.
Some teenagers are doing it all the time, and
it’s getting out of control. But how much is
too much?
A study says that the average teen sends an
astonishing 80 text messages a day.
On some levels this isn’t a bad thing. “Adults use
their Blackberrys to communicate and teens
are using their cell phones,” explains Dr Michelle
Barker, professor of psychiatry and paediatrics at
The Baytime College of Medicine. “On the plus
side, text messaging can bring introverted teens
out of their shell, boost their confidence and
help them make friends. But some teens lose
track of how many messages they’re sending
and how much time is being spent texting. This
is because there are no immediate consequences
– you just keep on doing it and forget that it
costs money. While teens may not see a problem
with the amount of text messages they send and
receive, parents may when they have to foot the
bill.”
Excessive text messaging can also lead to more
serious problems. “When texting becomes a habit,
it can affect teens’ school work, their ability to
sleep at night and how they interact with their
friends face-to-face. It can also result in an inability
to concentrate as they are overly-focussed on
sending or receiving the next message,” Dr Barker
explained.
Recent research also shows that texting teens are
a hazard to others on the road. Teenagers often
walk while texting, which makes them 43% more
likely not to look both ways before crossing the
street. And teens who drive and text at the same
time are an accident waiting to happen. Lorry
driver Michael Singleton says he was rear-ended
by a teen who was driving while texting. “The kid
told me he didn’t see me... or the 20 cars in front
of me waiting at the traffic light. He was too busy
sending messages to his friends!”
So, what can be done about it? “Parents
considering buying their teen a mobile phone
should look at both the pros and cons carefully,”
Dr Barker explains. “While having a cell phone
with the text messaging feature is a great way
for teens to stay in touch with their friends
and family, it can also become a distraction
in the classroom and a danger on the road.
Parents should work out a payment or chore
schedule to help teens learn that they have to be
accountable for their actions.”
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