RSS Feed
Too Much Texting?
The Nielsen Company recently reported that American teenagers send and receive an average of 80 text messages a day. This is more than double the average just one year ago. It is not unusual to find that some teenagers send and receive hundreds of text messages a day- one every few minutes. That many of the text messages are sent or received late at night adds to the existing concern regarding sleep deprivation among this population.
Physicians and psychologists are particularly worried about adverse effects of excessive texting such as anxiety, distraction in school, and falling grades. There is even concern about possible permanent damage to the thumbs.
Texting is a natural part of life today. When done in moderation and at appropriate times, texting offers teenagers companionship and connectedness. But things seem to be getting out of hand (no pun intended). Have you found this to be a problem with your students or children? Any suggestions for what to do about this problem are most welcome.
