Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Perceptions of Texting: A Comparison of Female High School and College Students

2013; Volume: 15; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

1527-7143

Sarah Tulane, Troy E. Beckert,

Social Media and Politics

Just as television is marked as the media of the 1950s, wireless communication is quickly becoming the defining media of our time (Campbell & Ling, 2009). Cell phone use is unique compared to other media since the cell phone is transportable and is not limited to a specific space (Garcia-Montes, Caballero-Munoz, & Perez-Alvarez, 2006), and research on cell phones has expanded in the past decade (Piotrowski & Kass, 2013). Features such as texting seem to be significant factors in an adolescent's connection to their generation (Oksman & Turtianen, 2004). Adolescents adapt rapidly to new wireless media, and in particular use cell phones daily. Most adolescents consider cell phone texting as their primary source of communication. They perceive texting to be a private and a direct way to communicate with (Pettigrew, 2009). In 2009, the Pew Research Center surveyed over 800 adolescents and found that older teens are more likely than younger teens to have cell phones and use text messaging (Madden & Lenhart, 2009). Almost all teenage cell phone users utilize the text message option on their phone. Texting and cell phone use allows users to communicate with multiple people at the same time, making cell phones an embodiment of the nature of the multitasking adolescent media user (Auter, 2007). Furthermore, Ling (2010) proposed that texting as a social phenomenon is most likely a reflection of a life phase of adolescence. There are differences in text messaging use between genders. For example, Faulkner and Culwin (2005) found that females average more text messages per day than do males. Similarly Grellhesl and Punyanunt-Carter (2012) examined the texting behaviors of college students and found that females use text messaging for relaxation and escape more than males. Females were also more likely to use texting for access and mobility than were males, meaning female participants were using texting to connect with other individuals. There are differences in text messaging use between adolescents and adults, and between people with different social or occupational backgrounds (Crystal, 2008). Yet, there is little research on perceptions of acceptability and appropriateness of texting behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Communication may be changing, along with perceptions of acceptable and appropriate behaviors. Examining the differences between adolescent and emerging adult texting is important since some research has shown that emerging adults use cell phones differently than do parents and other older users (Auter, 2007), yet little is known about how this age group differs from younger adolescents. It is important to understand the differences between these groups, especially since researchers indicate that emerging adults between the ages of 18-25 are still relying on parents as do adolescents, yet taking on some independence and responsibility characteristic of adulthood (Arnett, 2000). There seems to be an antagonistic view of texting from adults towards teens (Crystal, 2008), who are more likely to text than adults, and have had an easier time integrating the technology into their daily lives (Bryant, Sanders-Jackson, & Smallwood, 2006). The use of cell phones is different between adolescents and adults, but text messaging appears to be an important part of the adolescent cell phone culture (Oksman & Turitainen, 2004). Although adults complain about adolescent texting and how it is affecting grammar and other communication practices, when examining adolescent texting behaviors it is important to note that most texting adolescents seem to establish working rules, perhaps a form of texting etiquette that seems to be understood amongst them (Crystal, 2008; Cupples & Thompson, 2010). Appropriateness and Acceptability of Texting Behaviors Auter (2007) noted concerning cell phones, Along with this technology comes the opportunity to strengthen some interpersonal communication bonds while avoiding others (p. …