Our phones are getting

bigger and bigger…Our phones are getting

bigger and bigger…

Smartphones from the top 10 phone manufacturers

have increased 43% in size over the past 7 years. 43%

…but we talk less

on the phone

…but we talk less

on the phone

Over 4 in 5 of American 18- to 34-year-olds list a text-based medium (texting, email, social media) as

their preferred communication channel. 81%

We live in the

Age of TextingWe live in the

Age of Texting

The average American spends over 3 hours texting every day.3 hours+

- It’s fast

- It lowers anxiety

- Phones are no longer

designed primarily for

calling

- It’s fast

- It lowers anxiety

- Phones are no longer

designed primarily for

calling

Texting involves fewer social cues than calling. There’s no voice, no body language, no facial expressions.

In the past, texting was primarily used to

simply coordinate appointments.

Today, it has become the main channel

many people use to handle complex

interactions such as arguments, delivering bad

news, and breaking up.

In the past, texting was primarily used to

simply coordinate appointments.

Today, it has become the main channel

many people use to handle complex

interactions such as arguments, delivering bad

news, and breaking up.

Texting is reconfiguring the ways we interact with each other, the levels of trust we build, and what we expect

from each other.

It’s pain-free to break

up in a text message…

It’s pain-free to break

up in a text message…

39% of young Americans have broken up a

relationship in a text. 64% have had an argument on text.

39%

…but afterwards most

people regret not doing it

in person or on the

phone.

…but afterwards most

people regret not doing it

in person or on the

phone.

More than 3 in 4 who had previously broken up in a text message subsequently

regretted their choice of medium.78%

Feeling under the

weather? Better text

your boss…

Feeling under the

weather? Better text

your boss…

Over half of young Americans report sick to work through non-verbal media

(texting, email, social media)51%

…but most employers

feel that employees who

text in sick cannot be

trusted.

…but most employers

feel that employees who

text in sick cannot be

trusted.

Two thirds of managers find texting in sick a completely unacceptable or somewhat unacceptable way for staff to report sick.

67%

Got some bad news?

How would you deliver it?

Got some bad news?

How would you deliver it?

25% of young Americans prefer to deliver bad news to other people using text messaging, email or social media.

25%

Texting offers…Lower anxiety and fewer social cues

But it also entails…More ambiguity and lower levels of

trust between people

Texting offers…Lower anxiety and fewer social cues

But it also entails…More ambiguity and lower levels of

trust between people

The dramatic increase in use of texting should be viewed in tandem with the facts that trust levels in society are dropping

and anxiety levels increasing.

Why do you text?Why do you text?

All research data used in this presentation originate from the book Texting in Sick: How Smartphones,

Texting, and Social Media are Changing Our Relationships (2015).

Available on Amazon (paperback & kindle)

All research data used in this presentation originate from the book Texting in Sick: How Smartphones,

Texting, and Social Media are Changing Our Relationships (2015).

Available on Amazon (paperback & kindle)

www.textinginsick.com