Ripping the Chains of Texting

The number of text messages sent monthly in the U.S. exploded from 14 billion in 2000 to 188 billion in 2010, according to a Pew Institute survey, and the trend shows no signs of abating. Americans ages 18-29 send and receive an average of nearly 88 text messages per day, compared to 17 phone calls. The numbers change as we get older, with the overall frequency of all communication declining, but even in the 65 and over group, daily texting still edges calling 4.7 to 3.8 according to the Pew Institute survey.
Texting has affected face to face relationships in a way that we can no longer converse in person with the people close to us. We find it much easier to send someone a text message than to speak to them in person. Through text messages we are able to make the person believe we feel a certain way, when in fact we could be feeling the exact opposite. By doing so, there would be no way of knowing how one truly feels since the person is not there to see into their emotions by vocal and facial expressions. This causes habitual texters to limit their ability to form future relationships, since they do not get to practice the art of interpreting nonverbal visual cues. It might be easier to send someone a message when one is hurting, but in reality one is only isolating oneself from the people who want to help. This could eventually bring someone to their end.
The only real solution for people to start having face to face relationships is by making an effort to put away the phone when one is with friends, relatives, or acquantansice. Many times even when one is with someone people tend to have their phones out, texting other people when we could be talking to the person right in front of us. Other times everyone has their phones o...

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...per day. That way it would be easier to keep track of. This might also be a problem if the person has unlimited texting because one would feel as if they were wasting their money in the unlimited texting plan. If you feel that way, you could always reduce your plan to having a limited amount of text messages per month. With this one might even be able to save money and make true friends.
The fix to having face to face relationships is simple, but we have become so accustomed to texting that it seems like an impossible task. All it really takes is the will to have a true friend by your side, one that knows how you feel by not even asking you. We can see this in our grandparents; they are able to see how we feel without even asking us. I am sure if they grew up just fine without cellular devices we can grow up just fine without having to text someone for everything.