Texting Addiction Essay

Teen Texting In today’s world there are many forms of communication. There is Email, phone calls, television, radio, newspaper, etc. These forms of communication are very helpful but, is it possible for something as simple as communication to rule over your entire life? It is possible, it’s called texting. Texting addiction is now a common thing. What started off as just a way to help us communicate to others is now infecting our minds. Texting can reduce human interaction and can make people become sort of strange or maybe even somewhat socially awkward. Even though texting can cause this, cell phones can actually be very useful. You just need to watch yourself and make sure you don’t spend too much time staring at that bright little screen. From an article on KSL Jed Boal said: 63 percent women and 73 percent of men ages 18-34 said they can’t go an hour without checking their phones.” This is obviously a texting addiction. Some of my friends say that they think their phone vibrates in their pocket when it really doesn’t because they are so used to their phone going off all the time and they don’t feel the same without having their phone out. Some just find it hard to complete daily tasks because they feel like they always need to have their phone out. Some might even feel obliged to reply to a text immediately. “Study shows that many will break the law and rules of etiquette to stay connected. 24 percent said they check their phones while driving. 9 percent said they check their phones during religious services at a house of worship. 30 percent admit they check their phones during meals with others.” (Jed Boal) I am not saying that I have never done any of that but honestly, that is very improper and rude. It makes everybody else that you are with feel like they being excluded and that you don’t even care that they are there. Human interaction is very important, especially with the growing ways to communicate. Kate D. Anderson said that teen texting is a ruin of romance. I agree, there are so many teens that ask each other out or over the phone. I think that important things like this should be done face to face. “It’s like a tennis ball, he texts, and then I text back, and it goes on like this all the time. Back and forth. Back and forth.”(Kate D. Anderson) This is saying that a texting conversation never stops when you text every day. This is a terrible thing; there is no freedom at all with this. It makes you feel like you have to text that person back and tell them everything that you are doing and how you are doing. This leads to absolutely zero conversation when you see the person face to face. You will have nothing to tell them when you actually see them. This can make someone a horrible communicator. Talking over text is so much easier than face to face. This can most definitely ruin relationships by making both people sick of each other or even socially awkward. Although texting can be bad, it can also be good. Cell phones are a very good way to communicate and spread news or events. There are many benefits of phones like instant messaging, GPS, Email, you can even do most of your work straight from your phone. My dad barely even has to use his computer because his phone can do everything he needs. That is very useful. Cell phones can also be very good if there is an emergency or you need to get in touch with someone very quickly. Cell phones, like everything else, have their pros and cons. So in conclusion, cell phones can help in many ways and are very useful. Even though they are a very good way to stay connected, they can be bad. We as people just need to be careful how much time we spend on our phones. If we do this, our society will be a lot more outgoing and better for everyone. Just remember that there are other things going on outside of your cellphone. Let’s all wake up to the real world.