Nearly a third of Americans prefer texting over talking

texting

It appears that the convenience of texting is slowly overtaking the act of calling someone and having a vocal conversation. The new study puts finds that young adults prefer texting as their primary form of communication.

According to a recently released study by Pew Internet, thirty-one percent of Americans would rather communicate through texting on a mobile phone rather than speaking with someone over the same phone. Young adults are the most common group that prefers this method of communication and the average of the survey group was about 110 texts per day while the median of that group clocked in at about 50 texts per day. One in ten young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 report that they send or receive at least 200 text messages per day (approximately 6,0o0 messages per month). The next age group, 25-34 year olds, typically average about 42 texts per day and this trend continues to decrease down to about 5 texts a day for the 65 and older group. 

Specific to ethnicity, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to use texting, the median being about 20 text messages per day. Regarding household income and education levels, households making less than $30,000 a year where most likely to send text messages as well as people who didn’t complete high school. People that send or receive more than 51 text messages per day overwhelmingly preferred to be contacted though texting. Only 27 percent of that group prefer a voice call. However, 70% of the group that receive less than 10 texts per day prefer speaking with someone over the phone over trading text messages.

This data corresponds to an earlier study performed by Lab 42 that asked 500 teenagers about texting habits. Over 70 percent of that group preferred communicating through text message over a phone call and over 34 percent of that group spoke on the phone more than 15 minutes per day. Over 50 percent of teenagers use text messages to send pictures multiple times per month and they typically text while at home or browsing the computer. When it comes to apps, teenage boys primarily use smartphones mostly to play games, while teenage girls use smartphones for browsing social networks like Facebook.  

Showing 22 comments

  1. Zackery Brown at 2:23pm 20th September 2011 Sort of pathetic that this is how we are going with technology. I love tech, but some people need a better grip on reality. ^ my views.
  2. Mrnmrs Hated Newsome at 1:18pm 20th September 2011 Fuck yes talk is so over rated!
  3. Jeri Wolfe-Avery at 12:24pm 20th September 2011 I dont like this trend, where is the personal touch, the intimacy, are we afraid to actually face one another?? sad , just sad :-(
  4. Luis Lauranzon at 12:12pm 20th September 2011 I text my wife from the other room sometimes. Most of the time I text, outside of the before mentioned, is when I'm not in a position to talk. @ work, in a quiet place, driving....(kidding).
  5. Miri at 4:04am 20th September 2011 If you like texting a lot you should text with Zlango messaging, it's a free app for texting with icons, it means that you type your text and the app is able to add small pics on top of each word, the pic or icon is related to the word. https://market.android.com/details?id=com.zlango.zms&feature
  6. Braxton Edwards at 9:01am 20th September 2011 Texting allows multiple conversations to go on and allows you to ignore someone at any given moment.
  7. Chris Coleman at 8:26am 20th September 2011 This makes me sad...
  8. Adigun Arnaud at 6:33am 20th September 2011 texting is cheaper ..but really i'd preffer a talk ofver a text any day:)
  9. Peter Stock at 6:11am 20th September 2011 Is that the third who mumble without moving their lips? I can never understand them - and as for their spelling.... blech!
  10. Mzz Tbaby at 6:07am 20th September 2011 I rather talk than text!
  11. Alex Maldonado at 6:04am 20th September 2011 I am so apart of this third group.......
  12. Eric Asianman Quach at 5:59am 20th September 2011 its easier to text several people than to talk to several people. and also you get a break in between texts. I only talk if I need to work on some assignment.
  13. Mike March at 5:54am 20th September 2011 No voice... No feeling ( kind of cold )
  14. Amon Namanya at 5:52am 20th September 2011 text is batter i talk to my wife the all day on face book?and free
  15. Philip Palmer at 5:48am 20th September 2011 Not everyone you know is worth talking to. I'd rather text you than call you.
  16. Lorne Hammond at 5:45am 20th September 2011 Count me in that, the absolute best thing about owning a smartphone is never having to talk to anyone.. text me, facebook, im, anything.. just don't call me, its f'n rude.
  17. Cj TheDream Johnston at 5:44am 20th September 2011 Over here in New Zealand it has been like that ever since texting became available. It annoys the hell out of me.. Even worse, I have clients text me about business matters!! Not a phone call! Half the time I cant understand what the text says! Text language not cool..
  18. Anton Thompson at 5:41am 20th September 2011 That's because somebody's cheating and don't want to talk.
  19. Louie Cañedo at 5:41am 20th September 2011 most people are busy these days and get the message across is 140 char or less. Only long winded people who love hearing themselves speak NEED to always talk on the phone
  20. Jon Harthun at 5:41am 20th September 2011 half of conversations are "what should I get for dinner" or "What time should I come over". I don't see the problem in a lot of cases.
  21. Levi Buchanan at 5:39am 20th September 2011 I believe it. And it drives me batshit.
  22. Zach Gouge at 5:37am 20th September 2011 pathetic.
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