Nov 14, 2008 10:30 am US/Eastern
Parents Getting Hip To Text Messaging Game
BOSTON (CBS) ―
Many parents worry that technology, such as e-mail and cell phones, is pulling families apart.
But new research indicates that it's not the case, reports CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston.
In fact there's evidence that the family that "texts" together stays together, or at least communicates better.
KIDS PREFER TEXTING
As we found out from high school students, kids prefer texting.
"It's easier than just calling people and kind of less awkward," one teen told WBZ.
When we asked another student why she texts so much, this was her answer.
"It's addicting."
And that has some parents worried.
"All they do is text, the phone doesn't leave her hand," one mother told us.
Another had this concern.
"They do text me during class, which is a bad thing."
PARENTS NOT BIG TEXTERS - YET
Many parents are fine with receiving text from their children, but have no interest in texting themselves. But it may be time for parents to let their fingers do the talking as well.
"They respond much better to a text, and I know that they are not likely to listen to their voice-mail," says Jennifer Mellen, a Wayland mother of two teenagers.
She's among a growing number of parents jumping on the texting bandwagon.
With hectic lives, she says it's the best way to stay in touch, keep up with activities, and get the most information from her kids. She says it's also the least embarrassing form of communication.
"I think they'd much rather people not know that they're mother is calling them, and I think if you send a text, people don't know who you're replying to."
NEW RESEARCH
A survey conducted by AT&T seems to support that.
76-percent of parents felt that their children are more likely to keep them informed of activities through text messaging than other forms of communication.
And for parents worried about the impact of the internet, more good news from a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
"We found that lots of busy families are using the Internet and cell phones to stay more connected, to stay more involved with each other," says Lee Rainee, the project's director.
Their research found that 47-percent of families of families surveyed felt technology improved communication.
Only 11-percent felt it had a negative impact.
The rest said it did not make a difference.
COMPUTER REPLACING THE TV
In fact, the computer is starting to replace the television in gathering family members together.
"A lot of times we heard about experiences where somebody would see a really funny or compelling YouTube video and call every else in the family over," says Rainee.
Experts say technology can't replace face-to-face communication.
But if parents can embrace some of the children's hi-tech activities, even texting, it might B-F-T (Bring Families Together).
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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