Texting - For Better or Worse

SMS (Short Messaging Service), better known at texting has changed our lives, but has it changed it for the better or worse? Texting has been around in some form or another for quite awhile. For a brief history of texting, see the following article.

Texting has had effects on our vocabulary, cell phone design, even our relationships with others. For instance, my 23 year old daughter recently posted a photo on Facebook of friends around the table hanging out and playing poker. Every person in the photo had a cell phone either on the table in front of them, or in their hands. Even while spending time with their friends, they were texting other friends or even texting other people in the room.

Texting has made it possible to be in contact with friends, family, and coworkers in circumstances where talking on the phone is not possible, not preferable, or not polite. It’s a great way to multi-task; you can send a quick message while doing any of a number of other things. However, when combining texting with an activity such as driving, the danger may out-weigh the convenience. Recently, AT&T Inc. participated in a federal texting conference regarding the dangers of texting and driving. The number of texting while driving traffic incidents has even led some communities to enact laws restricting cell phone use while behind the wheel.

In addition, your computer isn’t the only avenue for spammers to reach you. Texting has facilitated unwanted solicitor texts, and as many cell phone users are discovering, your cell phone carrier will charge you for the incoming text, whether you respond or not. It is almost impossible to stop text spammers once they have your number, but if you’re lucky enough not to have dealt with it so far, here’s an article that can give you tips on avoiding text spam in the future.

Unfortunately, I just received my first text spam a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I have received several more. My cell phone plan includes unlimited texting, so it’s more of an inconvenience than anything else. But, it’s not enough to make me give up my cell phone anytime soon.