Texting_Teens

Pam Harrison MacNaughton Writing 122 20 Jan 2010 Texting Teens Penny Hartsoe is just the average teenage girl—she loves to talk to her friends and flirt with boys. These social needs used to be fulfilled at school or in a phone call before bed. Thanks to text messaging technology, this Roseburg High School sophomore is able to keep in touch at 6:20 am, 9:58 am, 1:45 pm, 4:50 pm, 6:00 pm, 9:23 pm, 11:14 pm, 2:03 am, and all hours and minutes between. Penny says, “I feel like it’s a part of me, and without it, I’m naked.” When glancing through her phone records, the number of messages sent and received in a given twenty four hour period is close to 500. She claims that is “normal,” and that “there are girls who text way more” (P. Hartsoe). The Washington Post looks at the nationwide trend; a study done by the Nielson Co, released in early 2009, says that “the most avid texters are thirteen to seventeen,” and they average 2,272 text messages a month. This breaks down to about eighty messages a day. This was the nationwide average for 2008, but thanks to the rise in unlimited texting plans, this number can only go up (St. George). Teenagers’ use of cell phones needs to be more closely regulated by their parents, because the excessive use of this technology distracts from family life, school, and even affects their health and safety. Texting can interfere with family relationships. Naomi S. Baron, professor of linguistics at American University, states that texters have difficulty being "in the moment" with other people because “they are constantly being summoned by someone else in another place.” She elaborates: "It is part of a larger phenomenon of where is your mind, and if your mind is always on your phone, it's not on other things” (St. George). Family time at home “takes a hit,” says David E. Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. Even though parents and teens are in the same room, a texter's attention is elsewhere. He believes that the majority of parents “know little about who their children text or what is being said” (St. George). On the school front, texting can easily distract from learning. Since the mental flow of texters is often interrupted, it makes it difficult to focus. “There is a cost when people multitask—a kind of a mental brownout," explains Meyer. He says that if a student is studying Shakespeare when a text message lights up, "Hamlet's going to fade in and out in a ghostly fog" (St. George). One doctor claims that excessive texting should be taken more seriously. Jerald Block, M.D., is a psychiatrist at Oregon Health and Sciences University. He says that text messaging is one of “at least three known forms of compulsive computer use.” According to Block, these compulsive behaviors can result in “very serious health and social consequences, ranging from fatigue, depression, social isolation and poor work performance” (“Is Internet”). One major reason that teenage texters suffer from fatigue is that many of them send and receive texts in the middle of the night. Penny Hartsoe admits that she text messages her boyfriend “usually until around midnight,” but sometimes until three or four in the morning (P. Hartsoe). While Hartsoe feels that this helps her stay connected to others, Psychotherapist Michael Hausauer says that late night texting “causes sleep issues in an age group that’s already plagued with sleep issues.” Many parents feel that the benefits of text messaging outweigh the harm. Penny Hartsoe’s mother, Laura, values having the capability of “being in touch with her at any time.” The cell phone offers instant communication, which is helpful in arranging rides and checking up on children’s whereabouts. Does she know how often her daughter uses her cell phone' “I should be aware of how often she texts, because she has probably 15 pages (double sided) on the bill, and I have half of one page.” (L. Hartsoe). Even though many parents are aware of the benefits of text messaging, the dangers of texting while driving cannot be ignored. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, “a quarter of U.S. teens say they text while driving.” Nearly fifty percent say they've ridden in vehicles with other teens who sent text messages while driving (Madden). This practice can be dangerous, if not fatal. The Washington Post cites data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The statistics show that “drivers younger than 20 had the highest distracted-driving fatality rate among all age groups last year” (Halsey). With the advent of the texting age has come another dangerous trend—sexting. According to The National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, sexting is when cell phone users “electronically send nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves.” A study done by this organization shows that twenty percent of teenagers admit to sexting. Almost a third of teens “believe those exchanging sexually suggestive content are expected to date or hook up.” Even though the vast majority of people in this age group (seventy five percent) believe that sending sexually suggestive content “can have serious negative consequences,” many don’t know that it is also illegal (Sex and Tech). In early 2009, three teenage girls from a Pennsylvania high school were charged with child pornography. The girls “sexted” naked photos of themselves to three male classmates, who were also charged with this offense. This is not an isolated incident, according to a CBS news report—more and more legal cases like this are popping up around the country (“Sexting”). While many teenagers and their parents feel that text messaging is a necessary technology, the dangers of this practice are undeniable. Not only does texting distract from school work and home life, but it also presents health, safety, and even legal concerns. Parents need to discuss the hazards of text messaging with their teenagers, and should take measures (such as taking away cell phones at night) to ensure the well being of their children. Works Cited Hafner, Katie. “Texting May Be Taking a Toll.” The New York Times. 25 May 2009. Web. 16 Jan 2010. Halsey, Ashley. “U.S. teens report 'frightening' levels of texting while driving.” The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. 17 Nov 2009. Web. 17 Jan 2010. Hartsoe, Penny. Personal interview. 18 Jan 2010. Hartsoe, Laura. Personal interview. 18 Jan 2010. “Is Internet Addiction a Mental Disorder'” Oregon Health and Science University. 18 Mar 2008. Web. 16 Jan 2010. Madden, Mary. “Teens and Distracted Driving.” Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew Research Center. 16 Nov 2009. Web. 18 Jan 2010. Sex and Tech: What’s Really Going On. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. n.d. Web. 16 Jan 2010. "Sexting Shockingly Common Among Teens.” CBS News. MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. 15 Jan 2009. Web. 17 Jan 2010. St. George, Donna. “6,473 Texts a Month, But at What Cost'” The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. 22 Feb 2009. Web. 16 Jan 2010.