Contents |
Text Messaging is also known as SMS (Short Message Service), which allow users to type short text messages in order to be displayed and received on the mobile phone. Additionally, the 2-Way Text Messaging, which is also known as MO-SMS (Mobile-Originated Short Message Service) [1], allows messages to be sent through the phone (Phone Scoop, 2005).
Messages can be sent from one phone to another by addressing the message to the recipient’s phone number. In addition, messages can also be sent to phone via special email address, carrier’s website or special messaging software (Phone Scoop, 2005). Moreover, majority of phones and carriers today allow users to send messages directly to an email address
In today’s society, text messaging is well known as sending an instant message to recipients through mobile phones. The world’s first ever text message is believed to have been sent from a personal computer (PC) to a mobile phone on the Vodafone UK network in December 1992 (Vodafone, 2001). However, AT & T (American Telephone and Telegraph) was among the first national carrier to offer text messaging in the States, beginning of October 2000 (PR Newswire, 2004). In November 2001, AT & T Wireless became the first national carrier, which allows its customers to send text messages to any wireless phone, simply by knowing the recipient’s phone number (PR Newswire, 2004). The use of text messaging has been useful before and still is today. Young people started to use text messaging when it was introduced, especially when it is a cheaper communication tool to be used through mobile phone. Nonetheless, in 1999, views began to turn around dramatically and people have now relied on digital cellular for years. SMS has also achieved great success in both cases, it has been largely a youth phenomenon (Jones:2003).
The youth of today’s generation grasps the Internet and text messaging with little to no teaching. They know how to use these technology instruments even before they were taught. Text messaging is a tool that youth of today use to express who they are, both literally and figuratively. Furthermore, it is a definite way for youths to stay connected. It is also a way to cover up their negative personalities. For example, if an adolescent is shy, by communicating through text messaging would show that he or she is likely to be less shy. In addition, SMS technology can allow users to order movie tickets, track stock quotes and check bank account balances, 90 percent of SMS traffic has consisted of person-to-person messaging, much of it between teenagers. It also gives teenagers a new high-tech methodology to pass notes in class. The SMS platform also allows them to send messages to groups of their friends simultaneously. Moreover, the youth are the group of people in the society who pushes the market forward and asking for more (Arieanna, 2005). Although other groups of people also use text messaging, it is the young people of today that are the dominate party who helps forward the mobile market.
The global reach popular and consumer culture made possible by new communications technologies brings new discursive and identity resources with reach. The knowledge of using text messaging comes from mass media [2] and popular culture as an individual sees mobile phone [advertising], used on television, in movies and pictured in magazines and receives them as toys (Marsh, 2005, p.14). Many high school and college students accustomed to sending unlimited messages on their computer and end up with unexpectedly high bills. In the future, text messaging may increase, if the demands of sending text messages are continuously increasing. However, if the price of sending text messages decrease, it would encourage more people, especially young people, to use text messaging more often rather than making phone calls. Furthermore, text messaging does not influence physical health as much compared to mobile phones users. Finaally, there would be more advance inventions which would be a more instant and convenient instrument, especially to target young people.
Youth Culture and New Technologies
Youth Culture and New Technologies - Multimedia Messaging Service
Mobile Phones - SMS Spam - Regulations
Joanne Chin Li Ling 23:15, 25 Oct 2005 (EST)
Janae Smith 20:52, 27 Oct 2004 (EST)
Janae Smith 21:33, 27 Oct 2004 (EST)
