Text Messaging - The Good Side
New technology is being developed to make living more convenient for people.
Text messaging is not an exception.
It was primarily created for short communication exchange.
That is why in many countries, text message is free.
It is was never designed for long messages.
There are many controversies now around it primarily because the negative effects are being highlighted while popular culture such as Gossip Girl are further pushing its popularity by making it a major activity integrated in what they portray to be the hip and cool young people.
I do agree that there are negative effects but there are also some good ones.
For countries where mobile calling is expensive, text messaging is the cheaper alternative.
Imagine the amount of information exchange that they are able to accomplish for a very small amount.
Philippines, the country known to be the texting capital of the world, has made text messaging so affordable to their market.
Each text is about one cent and they have created price schemes that allow everyone to send unlimited number of messages.
Communication has also become more active as everyone you want to say hello to is just a text away.
Young people have remained close their ties because of this.
They are also able to express themselves more often.
A daily exchange of hello already provides your friends an assurance that you remember them.
Friendships, in return, are stronger.
It has also developed a "here and now" culture.
Things can get done right away because it's just a text away.
Planning a movie with friends isn't so hard because you can text a certain number to get movie schedules.
Ordering food isn't so hard because even that has a phone line.
This, ideally, developed a sense of urgency to people.
They are able to spare more time to other things.
What would be interesting to see is for the market to realize the mature way of using text messages.
It is not a substitute to face to face communication, it is a supplement.
Text messaging is not an exception.
It was primarily created for short communication exchange.
That is why in many countries, text message is free.
It is was never designed for long messages.
There are many controversies now around it primarily because the negative effects are being highlighted while popular culture such as Gossip Girl are further pushing its popularity by making it a major activity integrated in what they portray to be the hip and cool young people.
I do agree that there are negative effects but there are also some good ones.
For countries where mobile calling is expensive, text messaging is the cheaper alternative.
Imagine the amount of information exchange that they are able to accomplish for a very small amount.
Philippines, the country known to be the texting capital of the world, has made text messaging so affordable to their market.
Each text is about one cent and they have created price schemes that allow everyone to send unlimited number of messages.
Communication has also become more active as everyone you want to say hello to is just a text away.
Young people have remained close their ties because of this.
They are also able to express themselves more often.
A daily exchange of hello already provides your friends an assurance that you remember them.
Friendships, in return, are stronger.
It has also developed a "here and now" culture.
Things can get done right away because it's just a text away.
Planning a movie with friends isn't so hard because you can text a certain number to get movie schedules.
Ordering food isn't so hard because even that has a phone line.
This, ideally, developed a sense of urgency to people.
They are able to spare more time to other things.
What would be interesting to see is for the market to realize the mature way of using text messages.
It is not a substitute to face to face communication, it is a supplement.
