By Akiria Dennis, Youth Radio Atlanta

(aired on WABE FM on December 13, 2008)

Teens today don’t really talk on their cellphones. They text each other, using a common language and short codes. You know: “lol” for laugh out loud, “brb” for be right back. I myself can send up to 500 text messages in a month. Some teens may argue that they can live without their cell phones. But they would be lying.

Sometimes texting will get you in trouble because when it’s not free, it puts a huge damper in the cell phone bill. And if you share your cell phone contract with your family, it hurts them as well. Texting also impacts our social skills. People send happy birthday text messages instead of buying birthday cards. I am a victim of this crime. I sometimes even send condolences through text messages. I know it’s not right.

My friend’s mother hates tattoos, but as he was getting his third tattoo, my friend texted his mom to inform her. With these kinds of examples, it’s hard to say whether new communication like texting has helped society or not. We’re communicating in ways our parents never taught us and ways our parents can only barely understand.

Maybe that will change one day.

Check out this article about how texting might actually improve parent-teen relationships and communication.

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