Role of Texting in Social Media - Research Paper Example

Social media: Texting Due Introduction Despite the increasing communication through cell phones, it is paramount to ensure that people possess the face to face social skills necessary to get by in the world. Tilley further observes that cell phones have become a vital social tool and as a result text messaging has become prevalent especially among the young folk. Despite the changing trends in how communication occurs it is paramount for individuals to be able to communicate face to face during job interviews, workshops, and other daily endeavors. Prior to the widespread use of mobile phones, people experienced firsthand interactions with each other. Junco and Cotton (2010) contend that today’s generation uses communication technologies more than any other generation. Consequently, this has limited the interactions among people across all the ages. Texting limits people’s relations with family and friends by interrupting family time such that parents and the children are no longer connected anymore. Electronic multitasking has become pervasive, sometimes at the expense of face to face family interactions among parents and siblings. It is worth noting that instant messaging can be advantageous as well as disadvantageous. An example is in a school setting where texting can be used in giving students information about upcoming events. However according to Papandrea (2010), parents and school officials should monitor student’s texting and limit usage of the cell phones. Excessive texting can lead to poor performance, poor sleeping habits, bullying through text messaging as well as sexting. It can later impact the overall lifestyle of the individual. Historical background The concept of the SMS was created by Fried helm Hileband while he was working at Deutsche Telekom. Studies contend that texting dates back in the early 1970 when ancient IM forms appeared in systems like Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations in which messages were carried over private networks. IM Internet Relay Internet Chat pioneered by Jarkko Oikarinien was another form of instant messaging that allowed many people to communicate with each other. The platform allowed users to send and receive text messages while doing other tasks. The masses easily embraced instant texting due to its ease, low cost and the privacy it afforded to its users. Multitap was the most common method of commercial texting. It entailed each number on the phone being connected to three to four letters. For instance the three key displays D, E AND F. Though it is efficient it was not very efficient. The other feature was invented by Cliff Kushner popularly known as T9 short name for Text on nine keys. Later in 2011 Kushner invented Swype whereby users drag their fingers to connect the dots between letters in a word. Virtual keyboards had automatic correction and spell check, predictive text technology along with the capability to learn new words. This feature that is evident today in smartphones that have immensely enhanced faster and efficient texting. The initial growth of instant messaging was slow because operators were slow to set up charging systems especially for prepaid subscribers. The cell operators however eventually settled and solved the billing issues thus creating the confidence to the public. Statistics reveals that in 1995 the average American user sent 0.4 texts a month. With time phones and networks fully supported the SMS service such that in 2000 the average American sent 35 texts a month. Instant messaging was significantly necessitated by the invention of Nokia 9000i, which was the first phone to be equipped with a keyboard. In 2000s, text messaging was available for most models of cell gadgets .this feature saw a remarkable growth and increase in the number of people using the service. In 2002 text messaging exploded and more than 250 billion SMS were sent worldwide. Later on according to Cellular Telecommunications industry association survey in 2009 1.5 trillion text messages were sent; this means that more than 200 messages for every person on earth. Due to the collapse of traditional methods of communication scholars have been triggered to research to ascertain the effects of social media on people’s lives. Studies in social media arose in 1990s. Over a span of the past five years technology has become increasingly present in the lives of people. Walker (2010) attributes this to the increased accessibility and prevalence of technology in everyday life. Relevant statistics supports the evidence of the availability and accessibility of texting. The increasing instant messaging while driving is a significant ordeal amongst people’s safety. This can be dangerous and even deadly. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (2012) reports that a large number of people especially the teens admitted to getting distracted when driving while texting. About half of the participants between 12 and 17 years admitted to traveling in a car when the driver was texting. Dovom, Shafahi & Dovom (2012) asserts that in 2007 alone thousands of car crashes in the United States occurred due to texting while driving. This has in turn instigated the implementation of laws regarding texting while driving. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (2012) outlines that, for instance, in Wisconsin it is permissible for adults to make use of cell phones but unlawful to text. These laws are affecting irresponsible drivers ban all cell phone use while driving .they were effected as from November 1, 2012. Text messaging may limit peoples opportunities for social interaction as it contributes to an impaired language. Walker (2010) compared text use and literacy abilities of 17 yr old adolescents. The research showed a vast difference between the structural features of text message and the usual orthography of words. The authors ascertained that texting could also lead to misunderstandings among individuals. They also revealed how language impaired person would feel isolated by texting thus limiting their interaction with peers a factor that would ruin their confidence and self-esteem. Facial cues immensely contribute to individual’s development. It is worth noting that facial cues are not present in text messaging. Pierce (2009) argues that interactive technology enables users avoid face to face communication. Text messaging could thus lead to social anxiety. Moreover his findings suggest that people are using socially interactive technologies to interact since it provides freedom and open-mindedness throughout the interaction session. Selkie, Benson, and Moreno (2011) suggest that to most people especially adolescents often feel intimidated to obtain reliable sexual health information face to face. They, therefore, opt for other ways such as texting to collect readily available data. According to Pew Internet and American Life Project and the National Commission on Writing (2008) youth aged between 12 and 17, 64%of teens admitted to using shortcuts and symbols regularly in school assignments. It was later realized that they were rooted in text messaging. Ceranoglu (2010) adds that they sometimes use informal writing styles and punctuation instead of proper punctuation and capitalization in school assignments. Nonverbal communication can be a crucial tool for acquiring healthy attachments. Roseth, Saltarelli & Glass (2011) describes facial expressions, posture and tone of voice as essential vehicles for intimacy individuals. He elucidates that many characteristics of social interactions are non-verbal. They comprise of slight variations in facial expressions express the tone of the interaction based on the context. Emotions can also be reflected in body movements and postures. The frequency of the verbal communication and eye contact also contain elements of subconscious communication. Drolet & Morris (2000) observes that the human face has a way of helping people to see what is behind the interactions. The absence of all these features in text messaging portrays the misunderstanding that may arise as well as the impairing of text messaging. Thus face to face communication may offer benefits that texting may not. Research has shown that most people feel comfortable while communicating through texting rather than face to face. Pierce (2009) observes that if a shy person feels more comfortable with using technology rather than face to face communication the interactive technology may become a way for the socially anxious people to avoid interacting. This research further suggests that teens are using the instant messaging service and that social anxiety is influencing this use. Therefore text messaging is a way of communicating amongst individuals to feel connected without anxiety face to face communication poses. Of importance is that the lower anxiety instant messaging encouraged individuals to make disrespectful or even vulgar utterances that could instigate hatred and conflict in their relationships. These could be avoided in the face to face communication. It is also worth noting that although texting is so prevalent internal processes in the human nature also contribute to this especially amongst adolescents. Notably, Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil, Gamon & Dumais (2011) affirms that people search for belonging and sense of self in their peers and look for peers to navigate their identity. Therefore, texting could be a way of wanting to identify with the members of an individual group. Instant messaging could also be a way to avoid feeling uncomfortable and averting conflicts situations. Discernable trends and future directions Parents, Teachers, and even social workers need to comprehend the effects of texting in individuals especially the children and adolescents fully. Understanding this, prepares them to guide the young generation over the proper use of instant messaging. It is paramount for social workers to comprehend how big a role texting plays in the lives of adolescents. Roseth, Saltarelli & Glass (2011) observes that adolescent’s boundaries concerning the information they share about them are awfully different compared to what their parents held when they were growing up. Conti-Ramsden, Durkin & Simkin (2010) asserts that with this understanding social workers will be able to relate to the issues adolescents face today. School social workers and parents should be aware of the possible advantages of texting to students for instance in emergency situations. Texting could also help in a quick distribution of information to a large number of people within a very short time. Creating awareness, therefore, enables social workers and even parents to familiarize with challenges that adolescent face especially regarding their communication skills. According to Roseth, Saltarelli & Glass (2011), most adolescents connect with their peers through SMS. Many of them have grown up well aware of public knowledge because of the expansion of technology –based communication. This research also provides scope for further research in future which will be beneficial to understanding of the exploitative impacts of texting as well as the benefits that accompany instant messaging. Since it is evident that texting has more disadvantages than advantages, future research will greatly aid in curbing some of these adverse effects. Parents and children also will be in a better position to adjust to texting changes and decipher the way forward. Conclusion Texting has had an impact to people in the past and present generation. It impacts peoples communication skills in many ways. Texting can be a helpful tool in emergency occasions and can be detrimental to developing social skills. Awareness and understanding of effects of texting to children help parents to support adolescent development fully in a more constructive and upright way. 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