Signs of the (texting) Times

23 posted on July 23, 2010

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Culture, Technology

The other night Lisa and I were out for dinner. At the table across from us sat two older couples discussing things that old people talk about like a beautiful old classic car they saw or how they’ve been doing since their hip replacement. As I watched them I started thinking just how crazy it must be for someone in their 60s or 70s to have grown up when they did. Just think of all the things that were invented in their lifetime: the microwave oven, color television, cell phones, the personal computer, GPS navigation, the Internet. Amazing technological leaps within a relatively short span of history.

One invention that most older people have been forced to adapt to is the cellular phone. Nearly everyone has one. And yet in the 10-15 years that cell phones have been around, another shift has come: texting.

I read an article in the most recent Wired Magazine called, “The Phone Call Is Dead – How text messaging is threatening (and preserving) the telephone conversation.” In it the author noticed a trend in his cell phone bills in recent years that many of us have probably seen as well. He found that his mobile phone minutes have been steadily decreasing while his text messaging usage was increasing.

According to Nielson, the average number of mobile phone calls we make is dropping every year after hitting a peak in 2007. And our calls are getting shorter: In 2005 they averaged 3 minutes in length; now they’re almost half that. We’re moving, in other words, towards a fascinating cultural transition: the death of the telephone call. This shift is particularly stark among the young. Some college students I know go days without talking into their smartphones at all. This generation doesn’t make phone calls, because everyone is in constant, lightweight contact in so many other ways: texting, chatting, and social-network messaging. And we don’t have just more options than we used to. We have better ones: These new forms of communication have exposed the fact that the voice call is badly designed. It deserves to die.

The author goes on to say how our culture chose to adapt to the text message because it’s a better method of communication. When we call someone, we’re interrupting them. It’s the phone equivalent of showing up at someone’s home unannounced and ringing their doorbell. We have no way of knowing if this is a good time to talk for them or not. The text message is less intrusive and more polite. Using our illustration above, it would be akin to slipping a note under someone’s door. They can read it and reply when it’s convenient to do so.

Alas, for those poor couples at the restaurant table across from me the other night, their world just keeps changing. Just about the time they get used to talking on cell phones in the car, along comes texting, DMs and Facebook. What’s next?

Just for fun, I put together a little poll to find out how you prefer to communicate. Choose one of the answers and then, if you want, let me know your thoughts on the future of communication in the comments below.

For everyday questions or conversation, which is your prefered method of communication?(polls)

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 11:40 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Culture, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Comments

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July 23, 2010

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1 JD said:

Interesting trend observations. Some of it makes sense (interrupting), but I can’t help but wonder if we’re connecting less and less with people these days. I have a feeling that the 60-70 year olds may be adapting to this faster than I am!

I voted “phone call”, because I don’t text, ever. I don’t own a cell phone of any kind. I’m also not a fan of Twitter or Facebook, although I do have an account with both. Add to that the fact that I don’t watch TV, and I could nearly consider myself two thirds Amish.

Although face to face visits are preferred, I do talk to my best friend on the phone for at least an hour each evening. (Come to think of it, she doesn’t have Facebook or Twitter!) She lives a 25 hour drive from me, so we only see each other 3-4 times a year. We email each other daily, but we also send each other handwritten letters and notes every few weeks by snail mail. After all, who doesn’t love to get something other than bills and junk mail when checking the traditional mailbox?

Texting more, talking less? No thanks, I’ll pass
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July 23, 2010

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2 Matt @ The Church of No People said:

That’s a great point. I know I’ve silenced many phone calls just because I don’t feel like talking at that very moment. Texts, emails and social networking is less intrusive. I wouldn’t worry that people are connecting less. People innately crave social connection, so we’ll adapt tech to that goal, not the other way around.
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July 23, 2010

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3 Karen said:

I would never talk to my mom if she didn’t have texting. Best gift I ever gave her, I think.
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July 24, 2010

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4 Rachel said:

I voted phone call but I do text to my grandsons and daughter at times. Being in the 60s group I still prefer to hear the voice of the one I call. You can tell a lot from that voice that doesn’t come through in texting. I agree with JD that face to face visits are the best and snail mail notes and cards give something tangible (they also help keep the post office alive.)
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July 24, 2010

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5 alece said:

oh i DEFINITELY prefer texting to calling. anyday.
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July 26, 2010

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6 Cherith said:

I perfer texting. I was never much of a phone conversation person. I’m terrible at returning phone calls to people that left me a voice mail. And I, as well as many others even if they won’t admit it, won’t feel bad not sending a text message right back. They’re easier to ignore. In a sence. Or if I’m in the middle of something texting is much more quiet.

Although, I also enjoy a good conversation if its someone i haven’t talked to in awhile or whatever. Sometimes it takes to long to type out a conversation especially for a detailed girl like myself! Lol I guess it just depends…
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July 28, 2010

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7 Hannah Tut said:

i dont think Cell phones are that bad but then again i may be a teen and text ALOT!! XD
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July 28, 2010

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8 Hannah Tut said:

and i soooo say texting baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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July 30, 2010

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9 Hannah Tut said:

My Mom likes texting but she hates my bill cuz i send like 964 texts a month!!!!