Comments about ‘Teens turning texting into a full-time habit’

The picture with the article says it all, they don't know how communicate or talk to each other. Even in a group they are isolated and don't know how to interact with each other. It's a convenience gone awry and has become a curse.

Maybe it should be made a law that minors not be allowed to have a cell phone. It distracts them from real life and disassociates them from society and the ability to function. This is not multitasking, its a serious disorderly obsessive behavior illness.

It blows my mind how much things have changed since I was in High School. And it's not like it was 20 years ago. I was 19 when I received my first phone. I could try and send 100 texts in a day but I find myself texting people and realize it's easier just to call so I do that instead. What worries me is the "sexting" and the harassing.

The scary thing here is that they are 15... these kids will be adding driving to there multi-tasking tasks at the same time... watch out for them.

The picture of 2010 and the future of thw World: Inattentive to anyone but oneself, self gratification at all times, multitasking without contributing to the good of society, but most importantly, the concern for oneself..what happens to others who have needs, service, understanding, and so important; communication. We are living at a time when values and freedoms are diminishing almost daily in the news, lives are ruined, and so many can only look into a 2" screen and that is the extent of their world. By the way, the girl in the background out of focus, is talking on hers. To bring some resemblance of order, can't students be required to leave them home? Probably the same parents that don't care how much time is wasted "texting" will argue for the right to bear phones. Good luck to our future leaders?!!!

I have two teen boys and the older has asked for a cell phone, I reminded him that his mother still does not own one and the only reason I have one is because it is required by my employer. Parent take a stand and just say no. I remember that saying when I was in High School, but it had something to do with drugs, which are very addictive. Gee has Satan found a way to distract our children in other ways.

New Slogan: Just Say NO to Texting.

A cell phone in the hands of many teens reminds me of a scene out of the movie "Night of the Living Dead". Their preoccupation with texting, the phone held up before their glazed-over faces, creates a zombie-like appearance. In my opinion, there are few things as pathetic as a teen staring mindlessly into piece of plastic.

It's funny how we create our own sociological problems and can never figure out how to fix them. My students did a project one time where we sat on a corner by the school and then we tallied up how many cars went by with people on the cell phone. We counted only the cars where we could see the driver either on the phone or texting. In the one hour we counted a total of 329 cars and of those 303 were seen using a phone. That is roughly 92%. I then asked my class (3rd graders) how many of them had cell phones. Roughly half of them at age 8 had cell phones and used them daily. It was an interesting project for these kids. They even started talking about the problems with the phones all on their own. I even had one girl who was receiving text messages from an unknown older man. It scared her parents to death.

About two years ago, our local tv station did a piece on teen texting. The 13 year-old in the piece admitted to texting and receiving (I presume) 23,000 texts per month. I averaged that into 3 seconds per and found that this child was using 50 HOURS a month in mostly needless activity. She could have become a concert pianist, graduated early from high school - any number of worthwhile things. When the interview was over, the mother and daughter walked away. There was still no conversation between them as the girl was rapidly texting someone and the mother didn't seem to care. It made me wonder what kind of marriage this girl will have. Hopefully she will be able to find someone who will be happy just texting. Who knows, maybe that will avoid the screaming and fighting that often happens these days. I do know that teens will take whatever liberties they can until parents stand up and set some rules.

Anyone who gives their teen a cell phone and expects them to "obey" the restrictions placed on it are like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. When it comes right down to it, parents who give cell phones to teens have given away parenting skills and have not taught the value of abstaining from that which can create idle time.

Texting is the new "video gaming". Our kids are not going to use all their brains, and then we will wonder - as a society - how are we ever going to pick ourselves up and become a super power again.

In my opinion, schools should outlaw cell-phone use in schools - there is no real need for them and they are a total distraction, just like in driving. Students are in school to learn, not to while away their time texting on the cell phone, which is really dehumanizing the communication process. Some parents have balked at restrictions on their children's use of cell phones while at school on the basis of "emergency" needs. While our children were in school, the school secretary could be counted on to deliver a necessary message to a student from a parent or vice-versa. Taking a stand for a strong teaching/learning principle is certainly more important than opting for convenience and capitulation to students' perceived social "needs" (more aptly named "wants").

Text messaging should only be used for those moments where talking is unnecessary or impractical:

(1) You're sitting in an impossibly boring meeting. You can't just get up and leave, and talking would be disruptive. So you surrepticiously communicate via text.

(2) You're going to swing by and pick somebody up. They don't know what time you're coming. A conversation is unnecessary. The following would suffice:

"What time are you coming by?"

"8:00."

or

"What's the address/phone number for ________?"


If you want to know, "Hey, how are you doing?", that's NOT a text message. That's a conversation. Just call them and ask. It takes a lot more time to peck out some banal conversation than to just pick up the phone an call. You have have to dial the number anyway.

Washcomom, be careful when you use a broad brush with the word "Anyone". That sounds like a blanket declaration with no exceptions - "if your child has a cell phone you're an idiot parent".

My 15 year old has a cell phone. I have the parental control feature that allows me to get on the internet and control who my child communicates with, when, and for how long. I allow a reasonable amount of freedom for him to utilize his own agency, I can contact him whenever I need to...and know where he's at with the built in GPS to boot. We both understand the established rules and I haven't had a problem with him yet.

When necessary I tighten the reins on his account useage. When not necessary I let out some slack. I set the proper example by never using my phone FOR ANYTHING in the car and not overusing it anyway myself.

I think my 15 year old son's foundation is solidly on a rock, not the sand you declare it to be.

When controlled responsibly a teenager with a cell phone is a beautiful thing to watch, texting at 100+ WPM!

Teen life is boring so what else would you expect? Older people need to look inward and cure their bitterness toward the young in stead of finding fault.

Feels like a lot of knee-jerk reaction here.

Yes, my kids have cell phones, yes they do text a lot, but I did not "give away parenting skills", (whatever that means).

I do take a lot of care as to what my children do, but it's much easier for me to jot them a quick text to find out an answer to to a question, or to find out where they are, when they'll be home, etc. I can also text them to call me as soon as they get a chance. It's very convenient.

Believe it or not, it IS possible to have a cell phone, and text, and still be a decent human being.

My2Cents really? Like really? Minors shouldn't be allowed to have cellphones. You are funny. I hope you aren't someone who is against healthcare because the government will be too much on our backs. If so then what is the proposed law you mentioned?

My two cents: who cares? As long as they aren't driving and texting. The rules of texting should be up to parents. Realize this (and my parents figured this out back when I turned 16) cellphones work both ways; don't know where your child is? Call him/her on the cellphone.

My 16 yr old son has a cellphone, that he earned for getting honor roll with his grades. It has made life so much easier, with all the sports events, school events, when and where to pick up, etc...

We have not once had to deal with overages on our bill. He knows it is a privilege, and can lose it if there are issues. Also, he knows that I'm in charge. I can request to see his phone, all the texts and picture messages without notice. I have done surprise requests, and never found anything to cause alarm.

It's not a cellphone that determines wether a kid is good or not.

What about this idea? Turn this issue into something positive. Let the kids text but put some parameters around it. Insist that your kids use full sentences and adhere to all grammar and spelling conventions. Who knows? It could even raise their writing standards. How much to kids write these days anyway? I say bring it on.

I agree that parents should reserve the right to monitor all media use by their kids. Email, texts and other 'social' media should be checked frequently and without notice.

I want my kids to learn to make wise decisions for themselves but while they are minors I will continue to teach and model proper behaviour. I'll let them make a few mistakes so they'll learn the value of consequences but until they are mature I think I'll continue to play the role of parent.

I got a cell phone on my 19th birthday. I didn't want a cell phone at all, but my parents didn't know what to get me and they wanted me to be safe since I had an unreliable car. I was put on my own plan and was in charge of making all the payments. My boyfriend taught me how to text, and I became totally obsessed with it. I am now 24 and I am beginning to HATE texting. I have about 6 people who text me all through the day and I hate having to stop what I'm doing to respond. I rarely respond right then. If it isn't important, they have to wait. I ask my husband to respond to our friends texts now. I feel safe having my phone. It's nice to have when I'm driving alone, just in case my car were to break down. If it weren't for that, I'd get rid of it. I agree that it is taking over our lives. It did it to me for awhile.

Many young women are obsessed with
text messaging and playing with their phones
constantly, like it’s a toy. Having your
phone around on the date for an emergency
or important phone call is fine, but when it
becomes the main focus of the evening it’s
annoying. A text here and there is fine, but text
messaging excessively at church, work, school and on a date is overboard.

Sadly, there are many adults that fall into this trap too. It becomes an easy way to keep constant, and somewhat inconspicuous contact with someone, even those that they probably shouldn't. "But hey, it's just texting right?"