When someone hears the word addiction, they may think of cigarettes, alcohol or maybe even shopping.
But, Jessica Rousseau, a mass communications freshman, uses the term to describe text messaging.
“I started using text messaging about 2 months ago, when I first got my phone, and I use it constantly,” Rousseau said.
Although she is able to send and receive text messages on her phone, the text messaging service is not part of her contract.
“I want to get it added to my plan, but I keep forgetting,” she said. “My bill is an extra thirty dollars a month, for text messaging alone.”
Mary Bodenhamer, a Verizon Wireless spokeswoman, said text messaging has recently become very popular.
“Text messaging has become quite the craze, especially on college campuses,” she said.
Bodenhamer said text messaging is easy, quick, convenient and inexpensive.
“We’ve found that those advantages match the lifestyles of college students on the go,” she said.
Bodenhamer said Verizon Wireless has seen an incredible increase in texting messaging, and its usage has grown more than 40 percent quarter by quarter.
“In the third quarter of this year, text messaging grew to more than 400 million text messages a month, and more than 1 billion for the quarter,” she said.
Brandi Baker, a fashion design junior, said she likes to use text messages because they are good for short, quick messages.
“I usually text message people like my roommate to tell her if I plan on staying out late, or my friends to let them know I’m in class or when I plan to get out,” she said.
But on certain days, test days to be exact, cell phones are banished from the classroom to prevent students from communicating with the outside world while they are taking their exams.
“To prevent text message cheating, my biology lab teacher this summer did not allow our class to use cell phones in class,” said Bryan Alleman, a wildlife and fishery junior.
Alleman said though he has never witnessed anyone using their phone to cheat, he knows someone who has.
“The guy who did it didn’t get caught,” he said. “He only asked one question, and I think he might have gotten it right.”
Baker said using text messaging to cheat on an exam really does not make sense.
“If you have a loud phone, you might get caught,” she said. “Besides, it might work to answer one question, but it’s not the most efficient or subtle way to get through the entire test.”
Josh Slayton, a business administration senior, said it’s best to use text messaging when he either does not want to talk to someone or is in a place where it is not possible.
“It’s impossible to hear the person on the other end of the line when you are at a game or club,” he said. “So if you have something important to tell them, it’s easier to send a text.”
Bodenhamer said texting allows for more sender/receiver communication control and privacy.
Bodenhamer said senders can get their messages across without the interruption of an actual phone call, and receivers can view messages and respond at their complete convenience without pausing their current activity.
“Both parties can communicate silently, so message content is private and there’s no need to disturb your surroundings with phone conversations,” she said.