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= Texting =

The term "texting" means sending short messages that are typed and sent electronically between two or more mobile phones. Most text messages are in the standard Short Message Service, or SMS, a format which is 160 characters of the English alphabet. Another form of texting is sending pictures or videos through MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Service. This allows a message to be sent that is larger than 160 characters. Text messaging is often used between cell phone users as a substitute for voice calls in situations where vocal communication is impossible or undesirable. Although it is sometimes easier to send a text message, it can have many negative effects. These effects include: driving impairment, enabling educational dishonesty, and bullying.

Though there are many things that can make texting a bad thing. There are some things that texting has done for us that have been positive. Instead of doing a 5 minute call to ask one or two simple questions, we can send a quick text message. Also, texting has made it so we can communicate when we have time. For example, if we receive a text message while driving, we can wait to respond at our earliest convenience.

Some Texting Fun Facts:
 * In 2009, 65% of cell phone users sent and received text messages. In 2010, that number jumped up to 72%.
 * 95% of 18-29 year olds text message.
 * In 2009, U.S. cell phone users sent roughly 4.1 billion texts every day.
 * 49% of texters under the age of 25 think it is acceptable to text while eating, while on 27% of texters over the age of 25 think it is acceptable.
 * According to estimates, text messaging earns about &60-70 billion ever year for phone companies.