A study from the Pew Research Center has quantified what anyone who walks through the Quad likely already knows — young people use text messaging more than twice as frequently as older adults.
Young adults send and receive an average of 109.5 messages each day, while the entire adult population exchanges an average of only 41.5 messages per day according to a study released last week.
Chris Brady, mechanical engineering sophomore, said while he thought that number sounded high, he probably sends about 110 or more messages, depending on the day.
According to the study, 83 percent of American adults own cell phones, and 73 percent of those utilize text messaging. Ndia Hall, kinesiology senior – “I just don’t like talking on the phone. I never have. Texting saved my life. [This generation likes texting] because it’s impersonal and we have no communication skills.” Chris Brady, mechanical engineering sophomore – “You can delay responding a text and it’s not like you’re ignoring the person. I send about 110 or more. It depends on the day.” Caroline Robichaux, biology freshman – “I’d rather be called. You can get the conversation done faster. Texting is like the modern version of AIM [instant messenger].” John Desforges, petroleum engineering junior – “I’m not big on the phone. Texting is easier because it can be done anywhere. It doesn’t matter where you are or if it’s loud or anything. [110] is way more than I send and receive a day. I’m probably somewhere in the 40s.”       LAUREN DUHON / The Daily Reveille
Though the use of texting continues to increase, the study found that 53 percent of adults who text still prefer to be contacted by phone call rather than an SMS message.
Taylor Erickson, nursing sophomore, said she believes the trend is because voice calls are more personal and make it easier to maintain a back-and-forth conversation.
But kinesiology senior Ndia Hall disagreed.
“I just don’t like talking on the phone. I never have,” she said. “Texting saved my