Katherine A.
Per. 2
Computer #54
Teens and Cell Phones
INTRODUCTION:
Do cell phones affect the way teens communicate with one another? Text messaging has
rised sharply among teens and is now their favorite and most frequent way of communicating. A
large percentage of kids ages 12 – 17 are now “ texters “ and send or receive as many as 1,500
texts Per Month. Text messaging has become the latest technology of how teens contact their friends.
KEY FINDINGS:
Recent surveys say that, “A typical American teen sends and receives 50 or more
messages per day, or 1,500 per month.” 31% of teens send and receive more than 100 messages
per day or more than 3,000 messages a month ; 15% of teens who are “ texters “ send more than
200 texts a day, or more than 6,000 texts a month. Boys usually send and receive 30 texts a day,
whereas girls send and receive 80 messages per day. Older girls who text are the most active,
with 14–17 years-old girls typically sending 100 messages per day, or more than 3,000 texts a
month. While many teens are avid texters, a notable minority are not. One-fifth of teen texters
(22%) sends and receive just 1-10 texts a day or 30-300 a month. “(Pew Center).
Four out of five teens (17 million) now carry a wireless device. A good 57% of teens see
their cell phone as the “key to their social lives. “ A study on teens also said that texting is
replacing talking among teens. A cell phone is so important to them that 47% of teens say if
texting was no longer an option, their social life would end or be worsened. This was said
especially from females, (Harris Interactive)
For example, when asked a question like “Do you often say you can‘t live without your
phone? “ Four out five teens said, “Yes, all the time, “ or “Yes, because then I can‘t socialize. “
These four that said “Yes, “ were also females unlike the male teen who said “No, because
there’s other things to do. “ When a small survey of fourteen teens was done, 8 teens said they
text more, 5 said they speak to someone in person more, and 1 said they talk on the phone more.
Do You Spend More Time . . Tex7ng Talking on the phone Socializing METHODS:
This research was done online and through surveys. Primary and secondary sources were
used from Google and in the classroom. This survey was conducted in a classroom with 14
students. With this information, it is most likely that cell phones might affect the way teens
communicate with one another. Using their cell phones to text is most likely their favorite way
to communicate with one another.
CONCLUSION:
So again, “Do cell phones affect the way teens communicate with one another? “ Maybe,
or maybe teens just like to text. Texting does not have to be bad or affect the way teens
communicate with one another negatively but it might. Technology and cell phones have gotten
better through the years and will keep getting better. Therefore, it is recommended that further
research is done on teens and their cell phones to see if it really does affect teens and the way
they communicate with one another, also how teens social lives could change with a cell phone
or without one. It is also recommended to take precautions with cell phones and not become too
addicted. Instead of texting, you can read, play sports, or go outside and feel fresh air.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
"Cell Phones Key to Teens’ Social Lives, 47% Can Text with Eyes Closed." Marketing Charts:
Charts and Data for Marketers in Web and Excel Format. Harris Interactive, 23 Sept. 2008.
Web. 19 Jan. 2011. <http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/cell-phones-key-to-teenssocial-lives-47-can-text-with-eyes-closed-6126/>.
Lenhart, Amanda. "Teens and Mobile Phones | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life
Project." Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Pew Research Center, 20
Apr. 2010. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://www.pewinternet.org/Press-Releases/2010/Teens-andMobile-Phones.aspx>.