A recent online survey found that 48 percent of teens (13 to 18 years old) use instant messaging—more than twice the percentage of adults who use it.
A recent online survey found that 48 percent of teens (13 to 18 years old) use instant messaging—more than twice the percentage of adults who use it. Nearly three fourths of adults who use instant messaging still use e-mail communication more often, while three fourths of teens send instant messages more than e-mail. Also, 22 percent of teens use instant messaging to ask for or accept a date, and 16 percent use it to break up a romantic relationship.
Some teens keep multiple instant message conversations going simultaneously. But Naomi Baron, a linguistics professor at American University suggests, "If you have 15 conversations going simultaneously, sometimes you're just throwing things out there and then dashing off to the next customer." That's a habit that can result in hurt feelings and gossip ("Survey Finds Huge Instant-Messaging Generation Gap," Associated Press, Dec. 7, 2006).
Technology has advantages and disadvantages, and it changes frequently, but there is still no replacement for face-to-face human contact or the thoughtfulness of a handwritten note or a phone call. Moderation is the key.
