The aim of this essay is to present you with an arising issue in the field of communication. It is often supported that though texting is a valuable way of communication, some people spend too much time sending messages by phone instead of interacting with others face to face. This essay is to present you with evidence on how communication seems to have changed nowadays and reflections on what the impacts of new ways of communications like texting appear to be in humans’ lives.
Aristotle, the Ancient Greek political philosopher once said that ‘an individual who lives all alone is either a monster or God himself.’ This was said in his effort to emphasize on the political and social nature of humans who by virtue seek for company, for co-existing and for cooperation. It is widely acknowledged that communication is a concept closely bonded with the human nature. But there has been lots of controversy regarding what communication is supposed to be like, how it supposed to be experienced and why some ways of communicating may seem to be of more beneficial effect compared to others. As a result all the technological progress and advance has resulted in a variety of new applications and ways in communication which have been causing lots of heated debate concerning their merits and drawbacks. People are usually divided into those who either love and try any new technological appliance and apply it in their lives and in their communication and contacts or to those who deny using anything new and usually fall into the trap of considering anything new only to be bad rather than useful.
Texting has entered people’s lives ever since mobile communication came to enrich the procedure of communication and make it more easily approachable and efficient. Since mobile phones became a necessity for the majority of people, with those not having one being considered weird or depriving themselves from enjoying the merits of communication, texting is the new way of communication which has turned out to be very popular, especially among younger people.
On one hand texting is a real blessing if one realizes the ability it provides people with. Those who use texting can communicate with anyone they want whenever they want. There are no obstacles imposed on them by time or place. A text is sent at any time without worrying about interfering into the other person’s privacy since there is no obligation on his / her behalf to answer the phone, and the receiver can answer at his / her convenience. So texting beats the time or place restrictions.
Another useful trait of texting is the fact that it enables people to write whatever they want, to express their feelings the way they want without feeling discomfort at the eyes of the other person stuck upon them. Texting gives the ability of free communication without any restrictions imposed by any occasional environment. One sitting in the sofa of his house can say the worst words to someone attending a funeral. So texting seems to have beaten not only time but all kinds of conventions.
Last but not least, texting saves time. People do not lose time hanging on the phone and talking for hours on something that is going on in their minds and all the other relative issues which seem to arise as a side effect of the main theme of their discussion. People emphasize on the plain, basic message they want to give and they stick to that. So plain words, short messages and clear messages is the new reality of their everyday routine. No long discussions, not too many hours talking and headaches troubling their everyday routine, not any misunderstandings are possible to trouble their everyday life. Whatever is said, is written so whatever has been written cannot easily be disregarded or not heard. So, texting makes people subconsciously be more careful of what they are saying, think twice before they express themselves and save themselves form lots of misunderstandings.
On the other hand, all these merits of texting are seen differently by the ones opposing to it and considering it to be the worst enemy of communication and human relationships. Why is that? Because simply texting is perceived as the least personal way of communication.
According to its opponents those obsessed with texting, seem to have found shelter behind a non- personal way of communication which does not demand them to keep an eye contact or be totally devoted to their discussion with the ones they are communicating. Besides texting functions in a double way. Not only does it prevent people from really communicating with the ones they are texting to, but it also prevents other kinds and situations of communication. Those who seem devoted to texting spend most of their time when interacting with others on their mobile screens rather than trying to meet them face to face.
Another argument supported by those who are against texting is that texting is used as a way of hiding their real feelings or hiding from themselves since interaction is performed virtually and so there is no need to be totally sincere. They can say whatever is to be said to their best interest without necessarily really meaning it. It appears that texting has created a way of communicating in a way which does not allow sincere relationships.
Each one of the above mentioned parts has its own statements and support but the truth lies somewhere in the middle. One thing that cannot be neglected and ought not to be put aside is the fact that texting affects language and its use. Texting has its own ways of operating and as a result there is a certain language created, the language of texting which has nothing in common with the traditional spoken language. As a result there are abbreviations, special words, symbols. The texting language is more of a code rather than a language itself.
Taking all these into consideration is it easy to understand that texting encrypts as a new form of communication lots of dangers. Therefore specialized treatment of the issue is demanded on both of all.
Children who are at the beginning of their lives and they are supposed to put the foundation for their lives’ communication channels and contacts need to be informed on the benefits of interactive communication and be provided with chances which can give them the ability to enjoy real human contact. At the same time they are to be informed on any innovation and new technological appliance since this will familiarize them with anything new and will prevent them from making a myth for anything new and be attracted to it like being blind folded.
Like any social issue of great concern there needs to be discussion and active participation of all those involved. Lectures on the negative effects of staying indoors, of using chat rooms, texting or any other kind of virtual reality are to be performed so that they can all become aware of any underlying dangers in anything new they use.
Face to face communication and communication through texting can be combined as long as emphasis is given on personal interaction with eye contact which help people unreveal their feelings and become more familiarized with the whole idea on what communication is really supposed to mean.
Works Cited
Collier, Anne. (2009) “Huge Growth in Texting, Mobile Web Access.” Net Family News retrieved from
Hafner, Katie. (2010) “Texting May Be Taking A Toll’ retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html
Lopresti-Goodman, S. M. Rivera, A. & Dressel C.(2012). "Practicing Safe Text: the Impact of Texting on Walking Behavior" Applied Cognitive Phychology 26 (4):644-648
Nasar, J. Hecht P. & Wener, R. (2008) "Mobile telephones, distracted attention, and pedestrian safety" Accid Anal Prev, 40 (1):69–75
Shannon, Victoria (5 December 2007). "15 years of text messages, a 'cultural phenomenon'". The New York Times.
Schwebel, D., Stavrinos, D., Byington, K., Davis, T., O'Neal, E., & de Jong, D. (2012). "Distraction and pedestrian safety: How talking on the phone, texting, and listening to music impact crossing the street." Accident Analysis and Prevention, 45, 266-71.
