Have you ever taken time to imagine how life would be if there were no phones or computers? Well, this is a question that no one has thought of because their life revolves around these technologies. Indeed, Barnlund (2002) says that since their invention, the cell phones and computers have ‘made tremendous contributions in the communication sector’ (P117). They can be used to send audio, visual, audio visual, voice and text messages. This has made life much comfortable than it would otherwise be. This paper gives a critical analysis of the demerits of texting technology commonly used by many people today. It does this by focusing on the weaknesses of Short Message Service (SMS) and email technologies used in sending text messages to the recipients.
First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge that the texting technology has greatly benefited the society. It has helped in saving time and shortening the distance between two people who would be far a part. However, Roy (2009) says that it has led to the ‘decline of face to face communication’ (P 99). Meaning, while using a texting technology, both the originator and the recipient do not necessarily need to come into contact with one another. This is because it only requires them to have the necessary gadgets which can link them. According to Fessenden (2008), in the case of SMS, they only need to ‘possess SMS enabled phones’ (P48). However, for the email, it is necessary for them to have access to a computer which is connected to the internet. This situation has led to loss of interpersonal interactions since they do not get opportunity to physically meet one another. This may in turn lead to loss of social skills which are necessary for human life.
Besides, the use of texting technology may be an expensive exercise in the long run. Despite the fact that it helps in connecting people who are located in different places, it may be a costly mode of communication because it requires the users to posses the necessary gadgets. Since it is money oriented service, the cost of sending an SMS vary with its length. The more the characters, the more expensive it becomes. However, many people find themselves in problems when they get addicted by it (Gogin, 2011). In this case; they will have to send texts all the time because they derive some pleasure from it. The same applies to emails which may force the users to look for computers and internet. However, these may be so challenging since ‘not everyone can afford these machines’ (Fessenden, 2008) This implies that a person who does not have a computer may be forced to go to the Cyber Café to log in to the website of the emailing account before retrieving the mail. However, this may be a very inconveniencing and tedious task to undertake.
In addition, the texting technology has contributed to the loss of speaking skills amongst the users. Since it only involves the use of fingers to communicate, it has nothing to do with a spoken word (Shannon, 2001). Because of this, the users become vulnerable to losing their speaking skills which is a key element of face to face communication. As a social animal, it is paramount for everyone who is not incapacitated in any way, to be able to use words to express themselves (Schramm, 2006). However, this ability is lost because it is threatened by a continuous use of texting technique. Both the SMS and emails do not require the user to utter any word. Instead, they only need to use a written text to deliver any kind of message they have. Such a situation worsens especially when these people get addicted to using this technology on their day to day interactions. As Gogin (2011) examines, such people may, in the long run, find it so challenging to use their tongue ‘to make verbal communications even when it is necessary for making formal communications during interviews, conferences and seminars’ (P 83).
Moreover, the use of texting technology may be uncertain and unreliable to the users. For it to be effectively used, it is essential for both the involved parties to have knowledge about its use. This may imply that they require some level of literacy (Schramm, 2006). An illiterate person may not benefit from it because it requires writing and reading skills which are only learnt through formal education. At the same time, it requires these people to know how to operate the gadgets used-computers and cell phones. For example, when using SMS, it is necessary for the recipient to enable the phone to allow him to receive the message. At the same time, he should be able to be on air for him to promptly receive the message (Glotz & Bertsch, 2005). However, this is not always the case since many cell phone users may be illiterate and at times disable their SMS services. This may make it so challenging for the recipient to receive immediate feedback if it was the sole purpose of sending the message. The same thing applies to the emails which require both the sender and the recipient not only to have internet, but to have accounts with the emailing servers, remember log in details and access their accounts before they retrieve the mails from their mailboxes. Surely, not everyone can manage this.
Consequently, the use of texting technology has promoted criminal activities amongst the users. Many people have now resorted to cyber crime to extort money and steal from unsuspecting internet and cell phone users. As a result of the tremendous development in modern Information and Telecommunication Technology (ICT), the use of emailing service has become so popular across different sections of the society. While the Generation Z high tech youth use it to connect to one another, the business community uses it to advance their commercial activities (Saylor, 2012). However, it has now attracted unscrupulous fellows who use it to send emails to different users in order to steal from them. The same black mail has also become popular with SMS users. After identifying a person’s cell phone number or email address, these thieves send texts under the pretext of congratulating the owners for winning lotteries (Robbins, & Boyle, 2010). However, as events unfold, it becomes clear that they only intend to lure these people to send them money before they disappear. This practice has become so prominent because such people copy paste the same messages to as many recipients as they can. Some times, they can use this technique to gather private information about their prey before they break into their bank accounts to rob them of their hard earned money.
Last, but by no means the least; the invention of texting services has promoted the use of abbreviated language. This has been a very bad experience because it has threatened writing skills. As a result of the prominence of texting technology, many people have been influenced to avoid using full words and sentences as required in formal communication. Instead, they often shorten their words because they view it as a fashionable style of communicating using these devices (Glotz & Bertsch, 2005) However, they do not understand this only interferes with their intended message in many ways. First, it makes them vulnerable to misinterpretation since the abbreviations can be wrongly interpreted by the recipient especially if they are not familiar to them. Besides, it can irritate and annoy the recipient. In this case, it will ‘lose its value’ (Berlo, 2002).
In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge that the advent of the texting technology has positively transformed the society. Even if it has revolutionized the communication sector, it must be faulted for harming the society. First, it has greatly affected interpersonal relations because it draws people away from the traditional face to face communication. Besides, it has led to loss of speaking and writing skills which are always essential in making formal communications. At the same time, it has proved to be an addictive technology which has become expensive and tedious and has been used to propagate criminal activities in the society. In this regard, it is important for everyone to be sensitized to use it responsibly and be wary of the unscrupulous con artists who want to take advantage of it to reap from them. This will make it meaningful to the society.
Works Cited
Berlo, D. K. The process of communication. New York, New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 2002. Print.
Barnlund, D. C. A transactional model of communication. In. C. D. Mortensen (Eds.), Communication theory.New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction.2002. Print.
Fessenden, R. A. (2008) “Wireless Telephony" Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: 161–196.
Glotz, Peter & Bertsch, Stefan, eds. Thumb Culture: The Meaning of Mobile Phones for Society, 2005
Goggin, Gerard. Global Mobile Media. New York: Routledge, 2011. Print.
Robbins, S. & Boyle, M. Organisational Behaviour. 6th ed. Pearson, French's Forest, NSW, 2010. Print.
Roy M. Berko, et al., Communicating. 11th Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc., 20109. Print.
Saylor, Michael. The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything. Perseus Books/Vanguard Press, 2012. Print.
Schramm, W. How communication works. In W. Schramm (Ed.), The process and effects of communication (pp. 3–26). Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2006. Print.
Shannon, C. E., & Weaver, W. The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana, Illinois: Illinois University Press, 2001. Print.
