Title: Just Send Me a Text
Audience: This writing sample will be appealing to those interested in the growing text messaging trend.
Search Engine Keywords: text messaging, communication, short messaging service, shorthand, messaging, texting, mobile communication, cellular communication, cell phones
Abstract: Text messaging is one of the most popular forms of communication with teens. Text messaging is on it way to becoming as big as email when it comes to modern methods of communicating. The key to texting, is being able to understand the shorthand often used in text messages.
Text messaging is the newest communication crazy sweeping the nation. Text messaging allows one to communicate with others that have short message service, (SMS) via short text messages, usually 160 characters or less. As a sign of the times, on August 23, 2008 at 3:32 a.m., I was notified via text that Senator Joe Biden, would be presidential candidate Barack Obama’s running mate for this year’s election. Numerous colleges are also taking advantage of the texting crazy by using it to send “Alerts” to students, faculty and staff. Text messaging is quickly establishing its own place in the world of communicating.
Recently, I was in my hometown of Fremont, NC, for the weekend. While there I got a chance to spend some time with my 16 year-old god sister who is a senior in high school. I have had better luck staying in touch with her recently, now that she has a new Samsung “Glyde” cell phone, equipped with a QWERTY keyboard. This new phone is putting her in the running for “Text Messenger of the Year”. Before she got her new phone, chances of her answering a call were 50/50. That percentage is even less now, but if you text her, you can expect a reply within seconds. It seems that the convenience of being able to type a quick message, full of acronyms and text shorthand, is the preferred means of communication for today’s younger generation. However, the trend of communicating via text message is growing rapidly and the age gap between those who do text and those who do not is shrinking greatly.
One of Verizon Wireless’ newest TV commercials highlights the convenience of its Short Message Services (SMS). This ad uses the first day of school and the fact that today’s younger generation is technically savvy to get its message across. The kids in the TV commercial explain to their parents the numerous ways they can stay in touch while sending their parents off to work. The kids show their parents how they can send text messages, emails and even take and send photos with their new cellular phones. This commercial illustrates that when it comes to technology, roles are often reversed and today’s youth are normally on the cutting edge when it comes to technology.
Text messaging can be a quick and convenient way to communicate. If you need to ask someone a quick, easy question and you do not want to distract them with a call or get involve in a prolonged conversation, text messaging works well. You can also avoid the risk of interrupting the message receiver with a ringing phone at an inopportune time. Often a text can be received and replied to unnoticed by others.
When communicating via text message, one runs the risk of not being able to get their intended message across; if the message receiver can not translate text message acronyms and shorthand. One can not interpret that which is not clearly communicated.
A while back I got a text that read, “R U N C H”. I am not the smartest man in the world nor do I think I am on the dumber end either, but it took me a minute to dissect this text message. For those that are like me, that are not up to par on their text shorthand it translates to “Are You in Chapel Hill?”
Acronyms and shorthand might be one of the reasons that this means of communication is so appealing to the younger generation. They can develop and communicate via their own secret code, which can not easily be interpreted by those the message is not intended for.
Like other technological advancements, only time will tell what role text messaging will play in the future. When I enrolled as a freshman, 14 years ago, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994, I would never have thought that email would have emerged as such a major form of communication. Now with 3 or more email accounts, I do not know what I would do without email. I feel lost and out of touch with the world if I am not able to check my email at least once a day.
