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Nielsen: Teens Sends an Average of 10 Text Messages Per Hour
Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Teens
Texting is cheaper than ever before. Credit: maxually, Flickr
Researchers for the Nielsen Company learned of the stat after looking at more than 40,000 monthly mobile bills. Nielsen is the same New York marketing and advertising research company that provides ratings for television shows.
Turning their attention to cell phones, researchers also discovered that tweens send an average of four text messages per hour.
Roger Entner, senior vice president of Research and Insights, discussed the revelations in a blog Jan. 26 on the company's Web site.
Entner calls the results of his company's study "staggering."
Some parents no doubt feel staggered by the cost of text messages. Entner writes that there's a lesson to be learned from his company's research.
"Looking at the same bill panel, we can see that only a very small percentage of people who text message are doing so on a pay-as-you-go basis at the 20-cent-per-message rate, with the vast majority of users subscribing to plans," he writes. "When we actually incorporate the effect that the significant uptake of messaging bundles has on the actual price that customers are paying for each text message, we find that wireless customers are actually paying only one penny per message," he adds.
He compares it subscribing to a newspaper. If you buy the Wall Street Journal at a newsstand every day, he writes, it costs you $2 an issue. A yearly subscription is $119. That's an 80 percent discount, Entner points out.
"After all the negative publicity that text messaging has received, a look at the facts is showing quite a different picture," he writes. "When one takes into account usage, text messaging is very affordable and cheaper than ever before."
Related: Text Message Analysis Leads to PhD
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
2-15-2010 @ 6:23PM
Dani A. said...My family doesn't allow texting since we don't have a texting plan. Sometimes I'm forced to text someone if I get a text from a unknown person that I would rather not call. So in all, I've texted maybe 5 or six times in my lifetime (turning 17 next month).
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2-15-2010 @ 6:36PM
The Cropper said...How stupid can you get?
This is just another way that 'kids' make secret lives. This interfereres with school, reality, and social interaction.
The only thing you need a cell phone for is for an emergency or to 'talk', not to play games, send videos, check the web, etc.
The last time I went to 'upgrade' my phone I told them that I wanted a phone that was very unusual. I wanted to dial it and someone on the other end say... 'HELLO", thats it.
I was told that they didnt have that 'kind'.
As for my kids,, they dont 'text', They think its stupid and a waste of time and are not hypnotized or controlled by the 'little life in a box' that they carry when they need to call me for advice or help when they need it.
A phone with a keyboard,, how f&&&ing stupid can you get????
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2-15-2010 @ 6:44PM
Joe said...Cleva.... I don't think your getting the message? Here is some reasons why teens text all the time.
They feel important when someone is communicating with them. They do it late at night when their parents are asleep. They do it in restaurants and while crossing busy streets. They do it in the classroom with their hands behind their back or other sneaky ways at school when your not allowed to do it there. They do it so much their thumbs hurt.
When you fianlly realize that a phone is for YOUR convienene and not the callers, that would be one sign your growing up!
A couple of main reasons why continuos texting is bad that it is possible for health issues, and safety issues wether your driving or just being somewhere, and your too focused with that phone and unaware of your surroundings. I'm not an english major so excuse my run on sentences. I'm giving you an important message.
I live in Arizona and one instance a 17 year old female was driving 70 miles an hour and slowly she went in to uncoming traffic, and she killed the other driver and she died quicker then you can snap your finger......no cell phone that never would have happened.
Thats not the only incident with cell phones out here. The accident ratio for cell phones now are greater then Dui's.......
The phone at your home or your cell phone is for your convienence NOT the callers. If its important I guarantee you they will leave a message........The message I'm giving is not intended to pick on teens, it is for responsibility, safety and awareness! There is a time and place for texting, the main problem is that method is mostly not used!
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2-15-2010 @ 7:02PM
Mom of a two teens said...What's the problem with texting? Teaching our children the appropriate words to use via texting, messaging, phoning (landline or cell), or personal conversation begins as small children and continues as long as we are parents. Also, proper manners are taught as small children and throughout teenage years nis also a parents job. I am very annoyed with people putting blame on kids and teens for using new technology improperly. We parents are responsible for guiding, and teaching our children proper manners and morality to use in all communication venues.
PARENTS NEED TO DO MORE THAN GIVE BIRTH. THE JOB IS NOTHING LESS THAN A 20 YEAR COMMITMENT. IF YOU CAN'T COMMITT DO NOT HAVE KIDS!
Times change we parents have to keep abreast of changes. Technology changes quickly, but manners and morality are time honored.
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2-15-2010 @ 7:05PM
Susan said...Ten times an hour? Isn't that a little light? My 22 year old texts so much that her spelling has suffered immensely! And, she used to be the editor of her high school paper!!!
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2-15-2010 @ 7:06PM
Debby said......I think I'm probably the only teenager that doesn't really want a cell phone these days or feels a need to text... I'm much more content reading a good book (Not Twilight or anything that is written poorly) on the sofa. And I agree, I think it's completely rude when one of my friends decides to sit with me and then ignores me as she texts to someone else! It's infuriating and it gets me into fights with them a lot. Please, people, you can text but don't text when you're with a group of people! Socializing is meant to be with REAL people next to you, not words on a tiny screen!
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2-15-2010 @ 7:21PM
Susan said...Kudos to you, Debby! Brava!! I think cell phones are the rudest invention man has created yet. Mobile phones were a good idea for emergencies on the road, but the induction of cell phones into society has become a plague. I agree with you totally. There is nothing more infuriating than someone coming to visit you and texting someone else the whole time. I was always taught to give my companion my fullest attention, if at all possible. It's a disturbance, an intrusion and an interference with one's concentration, especially at work or behind the wheel of a motor vehicle! I also find that, in text messages, the intonation of one's voice is lost and the recipient can take messages the wrong way. If you want to speak to me . . . call!
2-15-2010 @ 7:12PM
Chelsea said...So most people agree that teenagers are stupid, right? Well so are a lot of adults. I see just as many adults texting while driving as teens.
Maybe I'm not the average 17 year old- But I can see that the use of facebook and texting is going to hurt this generation IF USED IN THE WRONG WAY. We need to communicate in person and call people (even if it's awkward) or else what will you do when you get your first job interview? You can't text your boss. You need to be prepared for life and if you never call people or communicate in person, well you won't be. We need REAL relationships. I use texting for either convenience for me or the other person, people who text me first, people I hang out with in person and call, or a few other misc. reasons.
I know people will never agree on this but I just think that it's not a totally stupid idea to give teenagers cell phones. Parents should just supervise.
And no. I'm not blind or ignorant. Thanks. I happen to have a good head on my shoulder, parents who love me, thousands of dollars in college scholarship money, friends who come to me for advice, a job, a idea of what I want to do with my life, and a good start on how to deal with money.
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2-15-2010 @ 7:12PM
Alicia said...Teens text a lot. Adults drink a lot! Happy hour here we come!
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2-15-2010 @ 7:14PM
Chelsea said...Also people who don't spell well through texting will most likely not spell well through anything. So you can't blame bad spelling/grammar on that.
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2-15-2010 @ 8:09PM
sierra said...Okay, first of all, unless your teen is at the driving age, why do they possibly need a freakin' cell phone? The parents are taking them everywhere, they shouldnt be dating..so they really wouldnt need one in that situation. I get having one with them playing sports, but if I remember correctly,umm, theres usually an adult around that would have one. I dont understand why 13 and 14 yr olds feel the need to have a cell phone, or why their parents think they need one, at that age, dont you usually know where your children are anyway? Dont want them txtng all the time? Don't pay for the texting, or don't get them a phone! Only the parents can change it, so stop complaining.
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2-15-2010 @ 11:43PM
Elmer R. Hemingway said...Easily solved....disable the text service for your child's phone line..I learned the hard way, two months of 600 dollar phone bills.
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2-15-2010 @ 11:45PM
Elmer R. Hemingway said...Something people don't think about when texting..internet access charges and data charges...
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