Third of U.S. teens with phones text 100 times a day

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Third of U.S. teens with phones text 100 times a day

By Dan Whitcomb Dan Whitcomb – Tue Apr 20, 1:17 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A third of U.S. teenagers with cell phones send more

than 100 texts a day as texting has exploded to become the most popular means of

communication for young people, according to new research.

The study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which offers a glimpse

into teen culture and communication, found that texting has risen dramatically

even since 2008, eclipsing cell phone calls, instant messaging, social networks

-- and talking face-to-face.

The Pew Research Center said that three-fourths of young people between the ages

of 12 and 17 now own cell phones and of those that do, girls typically send or

receive 80 text messages per day and boys, 30 per day.

" Texting is now the central hub of communication in the lives of teens today,

and it has really skyrocketed in the last 18 months, " Pew researcher

Lenhart said, attributing the rise in part to payment plans that allow unlimited

texting.

The study's authors also say that, unlike phone calls, text messaging can be

quietly carried out under the noses of parents, teachers or other authority

figures and, unlike computers, it can be done almost anywhere.

" We've kind of hit a tipping point where now teens expect other teens to respond

to text messaging and to be available, " Lenhart said. " There is definitely an

element of text messaging that fits so seamlessly into their lives. "

Text messaging has become so much a part of teenagers' lives that 87 percent of

those who text said that they sleep with, or next to, their phone.

Study author said focus groups conducted by Pew also offer

insight into the subtleties of teen communication and culture, revealing for

example that, while boys don't typically use punctuation, for girls such nuances

are critical.

" If a girl puts a period at the end of a text message (to another girl) then it

comes across as she's mad, " said, which explains the prevalence of

smiley emoticons.

" They have these practices because they've learned that texts can lead to

misunderstandings, " Lenhart said. " It's a deliberate thing and it's also part of

a culture that's interested in differentiating itself from adult culture. "

The percentage of teens with cell phones who sent at least one text message a

day increased from 38 percent in 2008 to 54 percent in September 2009, according

to the study.

Meanwhile 38 percent of teens said they daily make at least one cell phone call,

30 percent said they talk on a landline phone and 24 percent said they used

instant messaging.