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[rcjordan]

Nielsen stats put the average teen's texting rate at about ten per hour during the day.

http://gizmodo.com/5468836/texting-is-the-scourge-of-this-generation
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From what I've observed in the extended family, 10 per hour is low. Well, maybe not as an average over a 24-hr day. They literally text while sleeping, i.e., keep the phone on all night and wake up to respond.

[perkiset]

It will be interesting, forensically, to see if this is the front edge of a new discussion modality with legs or a passing fad. I do not understand it completely, but it, Twatter and the like all share a common theme of short bursts of ALL ME without any real conversation. Works well in our self centered, narcissistic society.

So is it a cause or a symptom? Agree that 10/hour is low ... the raw bulk of texts flying from/to my 3 kids (15, 17, 19) is staggering. Thank for for unlimited plans ... 

[vsloathe]

I would be surprised if I personally only texted at a rate of 10 per hour. For most of the people with whom I associate, SMS is the primary means of communication. It's gotten to the point where it's downright annoying to be called on the phone, because it's something that needs my attention *now* rather than a text message to which I can reply in a few minutes when I can more comfortably take a short break from whatever it is I'm doing. Of all the things for which I use my iPhone, talking on it has to be on the lowest rung. Right below using it to scratch hard-to-reach places.

[perkiset]

excellent point VS and I use it for that as well ... SMS offers a lower priority vectoring of the interrupt LOL ... a sort of near-line asymmetry in multiple concurrent discussions. That alone does make it hugely valuable in my life as well.

Unfortunately, however, I find the phone too smooth to do any really significant scratching. Employ the wife's fingernails for such

[rcjordan]

Here is my cubicle high atop the ivory tower, I only accept email. Voice is screened & double-firewalled (Gvoice & Ooma). Fax is screened. No sms capabilities on my cell --told the provider to make it as dumb as a brick. Love it!