My girlfriends little brother just turned 14. He got the sweet Verizon enV.
In his first month, he sent 3500 text messages. My mind was literally blown. That comes out to 5 per hour- if he never sleeps. So figuring that he sleeps 6 hours, and is in school for 4 hours (and he doesn’t text in class), it raises to just over 8 texts per hour. Of course, people sleep more than 6 hours, and go to school for more than 4 hours– these are generous numbers.
I probably could have dealt with this except that he ALSO received 3000 texts!! Thats absolutely incredible. 6500 text messages through his phone in about 400 hours. Thats 16.25 texts per waking hour.
So, I’ve had my same phone plan for years now, and the only change I needed was upgrade my total texts–to 500 (which I’ve only exceeded once…). Every month since then I average about 400 — which I thought was a lot. 500 texts/month ranks in the mid texters for people I know, where 1000/mo are the super-nerds with smartphones.
So really, what do 13 year olds have to text about, that I don’t? On one hand I feel like the younger generation is leaving me in the dust. On the other hand, I feel like they’re wasting their lives. Nevertheless, his Mom took his phone away because she realizes the importance of human interaction.
These kids now with their teenbuzz ringtones and super text message thumbs…I’m starting to feel old like how my parents always talked about… Anyway, thats my blargument…
14 responses so far ↓
1 webduck // Jan 4, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I am 57 yrs of age, my husband 58. We have cells and text now and then, but nothing like what you describe with this kid. Sheesh! And how does he afford it? But, the bottom line is, I believe he is losing his ability to carry on a normal verbal conversation with another human being.
2 mollie // Jan 5, 2008 at 8:27 am
Wow! I always think I send a lot but I guess not! It’s amazing how kids send that many in a day and can still function!
3 Drew // Jan 6, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I’m getting that phone and so is my wife. We are getting it later this month. I have a Treo now and the EnV will be even better. I use Utterz to do some blog posting. Having an EnV will make that even better.
4 steve warshaw // Jan 6, 2008 at 7:08 pm
You wouldn’t believe how people use text messages. I know people who go out to clubs and bars and spend 1/2 of their time text messaging “dates” the met on Craig’s List.
Don’t forget that kids, particularly in High School, are around far more people than we are as adults. There is plenty of gossip to spread around to soooo many people; there’s just no way an adult could keep up. Not to mention, not paying attention in class is not the same as not geting your work done at your job.
I think a good Blargument would be on the effects of text messaging on kids ability to communicate.
5 Naive Ivy League Grad // Jan 6, 2008 at 8:40 pm
lyke oMg… 3000 txt msg~!!
Effects: terrible spelling and grammar, inability to form complex, cohesive sentences
6 annie // Jan 6, 2008 at 10:13 pm
3000!!!! thats pretty amazing…
& pretty scary..what are they talking about?!
7 Beth // Jan 6, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I think I have sent a total of 5 text messages since I’ve owned a cell phone. I have no desire to. If I have something to say- uh I call the person? Isn’t this the reason for a cell phone? 3000? Good grief.
8 adamsky // Jan 6, 2008 at 11:14 pm
3500??? + 3000 received!!! Wow… I should go to my work now, but your post made me “I can’t stand up”!
Anyway, it’s up to parents to control their children - it’s the same with cellphones as with computers, eg. my younger brother (he’s 13 now) spends all his spare time after school on gaming. He play games until 1 or 2 a.m and after that he is not able to wake up and go to school. Our mother doesn’t do anything with it.
I think beeing resp0nsible and good parent doesn’t mean to allow everything.
9 ?? // Jan 7, 2008 at 5:26 am
Umm…seriously, did you count the text messages?
Great post! 
10 Eric Huang // Jan 9, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Heh, I’m in high school and I can honestly say I think texting is one of the dumbest inventions of this century. What good has it done other than the fact that people can now send short bursts of illiterate characters instantly? I see classmates doing it all the time during class, it’s depressing since even “normal” regular people do it. It’s almost a social norm to do doing it, only a very few people I know don’t it, or at least not so obviously. For christ sakes, pick up the phone and call.
11 Will // Jan 11, 2008 at 1:47 pm
My youngest teenage daughter can carry on text messages with multiple friends at once. It would be very easy for her to get and receive 10 texts in a minute, let alone an hour. They talk like adults do face to face. One sentence at a time back and forth with all kinds of abbreviations.
It is a wonder to watch. I don’t know how they move their thumbs so fast, even using programs like T-9 Word. I also marvel at how they can keep all the multiple simultaneous conversations straight. I get mixed up just observing!
-Will
12 Will // Jan 11, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Eric - I see your point, but to be honest, with all the controversy about the radiation of cell phones causing brain damage, I am glad she texts rather than talks on it all the time!
13 edzme // Jan 11, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Wow good point– I never thought about the radiation! I guess hand cancer is better than brain cancer…
14 Blarguments VS Social Norm: Email Rules // Jan 15, 2008 at 4:38 pm
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