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| Vol.3.89 | |
Speedy Messaging - a Teen Addiction?by Vince PoscenteAuthor of The Ant and the Elephant, Invinceable Principles and The Age of Speed As if teens and their parents don't have enough to worry about, add one more thing to the list. Thanks to unlimited text plans and teenagers' passion for staying connected doctors are chiming the warning bell. Issues like distraction, lost sleep and rising angst are increasing in our hyperconnected youth. Nielsen statistics from 2008 revealed teens sent and received an average of 2,272 texts per month. That's over 80 texts per day, double that from the year prior. Fueling this growing trend is a teenager's natural inclination to stay current with their peers while not feeling left out of the group. Hence, texting is a benefit and a detriment at the same time.
Although schools forbid cellphone use in class, many teens are adept at texting under the desk or behind their back. Parents often stop paying attention to the texting stats in the phone bills since the unlimited plans don't affect the bottom line. Yet the bottom line is more than financial. Anxiety is a relatively new emotion to teenagers. Does Bobby like meω Will I get groundedω Am I too fatω- are thoughts that can consume a teenager. Texting is another distraction overloading their lives. Texts actually set up a teenager for more anxiety. Research reveals distractions affect efficiency, effectiveness and even IQ. Texting a parent is becoming an issue as well. Teenagers are supposed to be on a path of independence yet texting a parent a dozen times per day for a decision is counterproductive to the path to self-determination. Anybody connected in today's culture is starting to realize that technology is running us ragged. Staying connected is a good thing but it must be on our terms. There are three terms of connection that must take priority:
But reasonable, rational and well thought out are three characteristics still developing in teenage brains. If you're a teen and reading this, chances are it was sent by an adult who cares for you. Show them, and technology, who's boss. You decide how technology will be used to your advantage and for a good night's sleep to boot. Until next week it's full speed ahead,
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© 2010 Vince Poscente. All Rights Reserved. |
Texting is so new to researchers that empirical data is inconclusive. Yet case studies abound and the issues are impossible to ignore. With texting happening at all hours, teens are being interrupted during study time, conversations and even after they go to bed. With each telltale "ding" teens are at the short end of fitful sleeps (at night, hopefully not during class) and sleep deprivation. 