The Pros and Cons of Text Messaging - Essay Example

Video calling and text messaging have now become the most integral modes of communication. The flexibility, ease, and plainness of text messaging have made communication feasible beyond comprehension. It has been reported that text messaging has facilitated the rescue of people stuck in remote areas and earthquake-struck regions (Alexander and Amber). However, despite the merits of this blissful technology, there is a dull aspect as well. On the flip side of things where text messages have saved lives, it has also taken some.

In fact, the statistics point us toward the covert reality that it has taken more lives than it has ever saved. Use of text messaging while driving has been the root of most of the cases in this regard. According to a survey it has been stated that texting while driving is 6 times more likely to cause an accident than intoxicated driving (Car accident cell phone statistics). It has also been reported that texting is the most distracting of all the activities while driving as for every 6 seconds of driving while texting a driver spends more than 4.

6 seconds of those seconds looking off the road (Car accident cell phone statistics). In recent years with a substantial decrease in the costs of text messages, this risk has been augmented by a very large factor. Although it can be argued that it is the driver's fault if he is not complying with the safety measures it is also true that these lives were not in danger when text messaging was not invented. While texting involves typing out messages and has well replaced the use of letters and telegraphs, it has also on the contrary affected the communication skills of the populace in a very unconstructive manner (Bushnell and Kemp).

The use of text messaging has become so casual that people have forgiven the art of letter writing and have started concentrating more on abbreviations and short forms than on good diction. With the increasing use of emoticons, there is no longer a need felt to express emotions using words. The art of writing aside, text messaging has also incurred its misery on the art of speech. With text messaging now there are more and more people who successfully avoid verbal interaction and opt for text messaging instead.

The advent of text messaging which on one hand has simplified communication on the other has also at the same time degraded the “art” of communication. Texting is intoxicating. Yes, it is. No matter how illogical it sounds but it is true. The similarities between texting and intoxication are almost uncanny. It has even forced the surveyors to draw comparisons between the effects of intoxication and texting while driving. And surprisingly enough for some while not for others texting has had the upper hand.

How is texting intoxicating? The question arises. In the happening world of the 21st century where family values are given up for personal success, I have seen people still taking time out of their hectic lives to gaze into their cell phones and either read or write a text message. I have seen people not getting out of their bed before reading and replying to all the texts. This intoxicating nature of text messaging has made people lazy and wasted a considerable amount of their time by indulging them in merely unproductive activities. Not to mention has also wasted their otherwise valuable talent and potential.