OMG!  Texting has become a craze among this generation, sweeping teens left and right into this addiction.  Look around, and you’ll be sure to see someone texting within ten feet away from you, whether it’s out in the open or someone secretly texting in their backpack.  Admit it; we’ve all fallen into this fad.

Many teens agree that it is so much easier and convenient to text someone rather than making a phone call or saying it in person.  “I text a lot. Whenever people text me, I'll text them back. Literally, 24/7. I get texts at like 3am and I'll sit and have an entire conversation with the other person.  LOL.  And I also have AIM on my phone, so same situation, since its from my sidekick, its me texting,” said Brenda Nguyen, 11th.

Phone Company’s have fed fuel to this addiction, offering phones with QWERTY keyboards such as T-Mobile’s Motorola Sidekick and plans that recommend unlimited texting bundles. 

BTW, many don’t realize that this habit can affect schoolwork and the ability to sleep at night, if it is taken out of control.  Teens are so involved with being in school and participating in after school sport practices, that it takes away from socializing with friends and then they go home to do homework, while their phones are out alongside their pencils and erasers.  Concentration on homework is taken away since more of it is focused on getting a message replied.  The easy accessibility of being able to talk to someone with just a button away, has added to the restless nights of being able to sleep or being kept awake.

Texting has also proved to be dangerous among driving in teens.  Teenagers as a group average twice as many accidents as adult drivers, while driving only half as many miles.  (California Driver’s Handbook)  California legislatures have shown concerned and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has banned motorists from writing, reading or sending text messages while driving, which will take effect January, 1, 2009. (latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2008/09/texting-banned.html)  This is a move to protect teens and lower the accident rates by keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Although texting has its cons, America has also caught up with the popularity of texting and has used it as a tool.  Popular reality shows such as American Idol or America’s Best Dance Crew, allows its viewers to use texting as a way to vote for who they support.  This year’s presidential election was the first to use texting as a tool to get people to the election polls.  Barack Obama used texting to target the younger generation to go out and vote, since it’s the most effective and cheapest way of getting supporters. (textually.org)  It has proven to have some effect, since research shows that more young people have voted than any other time in history.  TTYL!