Over 30 p.c. US teens SMS 100 times a day

LOS ANGELES, USA: 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.

According to the study girls in the age group of 14 to 17 years were the most active text messengers. The survey of 800 teenagers and their parents between June 26 and September 24, says the girls in this group send 100 messages a day, which almost double the level of all teenagers. This means one in three teens sends more than 100 text messages a day or 3000 texts a month, it added.

The Pew Research Centre 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 Amanda 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 per cent of those who text said that they sleep with, or next to, their phone.

Study author Scott Campbell 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," Campbell 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 per cent in 2008 to 54 per cent in September 2009, according to the study.

Meanwhile 38 per cent of teens said they daily make at least one cell phone call, 30 per cent said they talk on a landline phone and 24 per cent said they used instant messaging.