More People Texted Daily than Worlds Population
October 07, 2010 @ 3:38:53 PM EST
Texting is the #2 form of communication behind only face to face speaking.
When a Florida teen was arrested for savagely beating an eighth-grade girl, he said that rude text messages she'd sent him sparked his rage. This tragic incident mirrors similar stories in which teens' texting becomes hostile.
Cruelty is nothing new. But the anonymity of texting (in fact, the two teens involved in the Florida incident didn't know each other) fosters an environment where kids can say anything. Kids' actions seem detached from the consequences. And let's face it, teens' judgement and impulse control are not yet fully developed. The hostile exchanges, combined with instantaneous communication, can be very destructive.
Billions of text messages are sent every year from our kids' mobile phones. While most kids use messaging responsibly, it's still a powerful and extremely private communication tool that needs to be used responsibly.
Why understanding texting is important
Texting is totally portable, private, and immediate. Kids can send messages to anyone from anywhere at anytime. In other words, they have no boundaries unless we help them to establish some. Almost no research has been done on the impact of immediate communication on our kids' social development.
But the instant gratification factor of getting instantaneous responses from friends has to have some affect. Any parent who has been at the dinner table or on a hike with a child only to have their pockets buzz with an incoming message knows that texts take your kids out of the moment they are in and connect them to distant friends.
Texts can be used to keep friends close, help parents figure out family logistics, and offer a wonderful way to share experiences. But as with any powerful tool, texting can also be used to bully or humiliate people. An embarrassing or upsetting image or video can quickly be transmitted or uploaded to on online video sharing site like YouTube. Sexting is a form of texting where kids Kids have to know that the abusing the privilege of texting will have consequences. And sadly, the use of texting in school cheating is on the rise as answers can be swiftly passed from student to student.
Parent Tips
- Carefully evaluate whether or not your kids need texting on their cellphones. Just because other kids in their class have it doesn't mean your child needs it.
- If your kids do text, get an unlimited texting plan. Otherwise the charges mount up swiftly.
- Make rules around when and where. No texting during meals, during class, on family outings. Oh, and turn the phone OFF at night!
- Establish consequences for misuse. Cheating, inappropriate messages, sexual communication. These are all no-go's. Want to make your point? Take a kid's phone away for a week.
- Watch your own behavior. Parents are still kids' playbooks for right and wrong. If you text your kid during class and then turn around and tell that child that he or she can't do that, we send mixed messages.
- If you suspect your kids aren't texting appropriately, you can always look at their messages. Yes, it feels like snooping, but our first job as parents is to ensure our kids use powerful technologies safely and responsibly.
Which States Have Cell Phone, Texting While Driving Bans?
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 By Stan Krol admin
- December 14, 2011 06:28pm EST
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) caused quite the stir yesterday when it recommended that drivers be banned not just from texting while driving but also placing hands-free calls.
"More than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents," NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said in a statement. "It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving."
The NTSB is an independent agency that investigates transportation accidents and makes recommendations on safety-related issues. It has no authority to regulate, fund, or be directly involved in the operation of any mode of transportation. A lawmaker, however, could conceivably use the agency's recommendations in crafting legislation.
While the NTSB is recommending that there be a nationwide ban on electronics use while driving, the agency's report focused on state efforts rather than an overarching ban from the federal level.
"A combination of enforceable state laws, high visibility enforcement, and supporting communication campaigns can reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers distracted by the use of portable electronic devices," the NTSB concluded.
The "enforceable" part of that statement might be the kicker. Police can spot a driver typing out a text message or holding up a phone to their ear, but if your phone is on speaker, how would an officer know you're not just talking to yourself or singing along to the radio?
Of course, the real danger is in those few seconds when a driver might glance at their phone during an incoming call, or scroll through contacts to place a call, even if the actual chatting is done in a hands-free manner. That's why recent discussions on this topic have focused on "distracted driving" as a whole rather than just phone calls or texts.
It remains to be seen what state lawmakers might do with the NTSB recommendations. At this point, there is a patchwork of state laws regarding cell phone use in the car, with other bills making their way through state legislatures. What's on the books in your state? While no state bans cell phone use outright at this point, many require hands-free devices or ban texting, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
Ban on handheld cell phones while driving: Nine states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington) plus D.C. and Virgin Islands require hands-free mobile use.
Cell phone bans for novice drivers: 30 states and D.C. ban cell phone use by novices.
Cell phone bans for school bus drivers: 19 states and D.C. ban the use of cell phones by school bus drivers.
Ban on texting while driving: 35 states, D.C., and Guam ban texting while driving for all drivers. Another 7 states (Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia) ban the practice for novice drivers, while Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas ban the practice by school bus drivers.
Other states have variations on cell phone while driving bans, like New Hampshire, which has distracted driving laws. Texas bans handheld phones and texting in school zones, while Illinois bans handheld cell phones in school zones and highway construction zones.
Many cities have also passed distracted driving bans, though states like Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Oklahoma ban local officials from enacting such laws.
A complete chart of current laws is available GHSA Web site; also check out the image below.
What about the states without bans? Florida state Sen. Jack Latvala said that there is "absolutely no chance" the state will ban cell phones while driving.
The Houston Chronicle ,Texas is also unlikely to accept such a ban. "There's no will in Texas to do that," state Rep. Gary Elkins told the paper.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, meanwhile, The Ohio Senate is considering legislation that would ban texting and driving.
For PCMag mobile analyst Sascha Segan's take, see The NTSB report.
For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @Textedme
A resource for all wireless users on the dangers of texting while driving.
Take out your wireless device. Read the last text message you received out loud. Would reading or responding to that text message from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle be worth the risk of getting into a car accident or worse? Chances are, the text message could wait.
In today's 24/7/365 world, staying connected is no longer an option. It's a necessity. With a tenfold increase in text messaging over the last three years according to CTIA — The Wireless Association, there is no question that texting is increasingly becoming the way many communicate today. And, for many, the allure to quickly read and respond — even from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle — can be tempting. But texting and driving is dangerous.
Our goal is to educate all wireless users, but especially teen drivers, that there is a smart way to text.
Our message is simple, yet vital: When it comes to texting and driving, it can wait.
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