March 10, 2004
Does your teen have text with strangers?
Julie Jacobson for Stuff brings up a good question. Do you know - not where your children are - but who they are going to bed with? As youngsters have their cell phones on them at all times, including bedtime.
"Jacobson describes a trend called "cold calling", where teens text unknown friends of friends to gauge the possibility of romance or friendship, then leave their phones on overnight in case they get a call.
It turns out there is now a set of social norms and etiquette surrounding texting, which opened up "incredible possibilities". "Replying to text messaging had its own set of rules. There were strong expectations that messages should be returned almost immediately. In extreme cases, students would send follow-up messages within a few minutes asking why a text had not been answered".
"Internet Safety Group director Liz Butterfield said texting was a perfect example of how a neutral technology could have both positive and negative effects. It had become a crucial way for young people to keep in touch but was also a tool for "antisocial behaviour".
Jacobson also brings up some examples of bullying by text message, something I've followed closely over the years. To know more about SMS bullies, check out this category in Textually.org
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