[texting = mental "brownout"]

My initial reaction when reading claims such as "Life's issues are not always settled in sound bites" and "if a teenager is reading Shakespeare when a text message comes, 'Hamlet's going to fade in and out in a ghostly fog'" is...but seriously? Though, the ghostly fog might well signify Hamlet's own state of mind and his visions... (and yes, I have talked about this before). The first quote is from a "worried parent" the second from a psychology prof. at an American University. Follow these quotes with the suggestion that "addiction to the Internet and text messaging be included in the diagnostic manual for mental illnesses."

Reading the American Journal of Psychiatry article which suggests that too much texting is appears as a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder, I wonder if these kinds of reactions (seemingly research-backed or not) are similar to those which emerged alongside other technologies such as the book (remember Socrates' worry that writing destroys memory and weakens the mind) , tv, computer games or rap music - the latter now seen as actually "a forum that addresses the political and economic disfranchisement." It seems that these kind of (visceral) reactions to young (because it's usually the teenagers isn't it?) people's use of new modes of technology reduce hci (human computer interaction) from a complicated interaction with (surely) many different levels at work to something *flat.*

There are some "experts" who suggest that sms-ing is synonymous with "declines in spelling, word choice and writing complexity. Some indicate that too much texting is linked to an inability to focus." But, there are also studies which show that students learn when actively involved. Having students txt answers to the teacher would be just one example of how sms-ing can be used in the classroom to promote reflection and synthesis. I've used twitter as a (free) way of checking student progress during lectures and as a way of encouraging reflection and interaction.



I see these kinds of technologies as having positive uses, as Carla Meskill notes, they can be a "spring-board and catalyst for active hands-on...learning."


If we sway too much in the direction of worry and anxiety, we'll lose our chance of harnessing the positive, pedagogical and empowering opportunities that come with technological developments. Especially when other research points to increases in learning, language aquisition, maths and other development. Additionally, studies have shown gender differences in txt messaging including one that shows "Females are more skillful in writing complex, long and lexically dense messages than males."

Here are some gender examples from a Norwegian study:

"Where men offer comments such as:

I think that there is something with SMS [= text messaging] . . . I can’t really do it. It is such short things (Bjørn, aged 40)

Buy a hard disk (Male, aged 23) kjøp en hardisk

The pub doesn’t open today (Male, aged 32) Pubben åpner ikke idag

[Women write:]

super! Now we have landed at Steilende and the hot dogs are on the grill. The first landing from our own boat. M&MandT greetings. We are looking forward to saturday. :) (Female, aged 29) supert! Nå ha vi lagt til på og pølsene ligger på grillen. Første ilandstigning fra egen båt. M&MogT hilser. Gleder oss til lørdag. :)

Hi! Are we still going to meet today? I don’t have more $ on my mobile after this msg. Just say when and where we should meet! (Female 19 years) Hey! Skal vi fortsatt møtes i dag? Har ik mer $ på mob etr denne mld! Bare si fra når og hvor når u vil møtes!"

The conclusions noted from this study seem to parallel those reached in studies of written and CMC and gender:

"Young adult women seem to be to the chattiest. Females under the age of 34 have the highest median number of words per text message. Women over age 35 use about 10 fewer letters per message than their younger counterparts. By contrast, males of all ages – aside from those over age 55 – are relatively stable at about 15 – 20 letters per message."

There are also case studies which illustrate how "group-based text messaging enables continuous social awareness, group coordination and smart convergence on social events." In fact, mobile 'phones, rather than encourage disassociation or lack of "presentness, " can engender "intimacy and a feeling of being permanently tethered." There are lots of levels/areas to take into account.

Sure, doing something "too" much might have negative implications but there just isn't enough research to justify sweeping claims. We could also ask questions about why certain teenagers might put more energy into texting rather than, say, family game night (because there might not be family or game night etc...). It's a complicated matter and I vote for focusing on the potential.





Top image is a cartoon by Chris Madden, the bottom image is by scion_cho on flickr.