As most of you with teenagers know all too well, text messaging has become their preferred means of ‘chatting’ with friends.

But a new survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx) illustrates just how far US teenagers have gone along this road, with 1 in 3 US teenagers now sending more than 100 texts a day!

Not only do 75% of all children 12-17 years in the US own mobile phones but they don’t use them for making phone calls. Yes, they use their phones for voice calling to parents, but prefer text messaging to friends.

So although US teens make or receive about 5 calls a day, half of them send a minimum of 50 text messages a day.

“Texting is so functional and efficient,” said Amanda Lenhart, a senior research specialist at PEW, when asked to explain the survey results. “It’s convenient and fits into those small spaces in daily life. You’re not talking about much, but you’re telling people you’re connected to them.”

@family [+]April 24th, 2010, 17:24