Intimacy
With Mobile Phones
Unless you've been residing in a world of your own, without
a mobile phone, you would most probably have heard the term
SMS. It is also frequently referred to as "texting." It has
become the rage of the 21st century as mobile phone users
are constantly trying to find new ways to use their mobile
phones.
Today we live in a fast-moving world and more and more people
are turning to texting as a means of relating to each other.
The dating world is no exception. With the onslaught of online
daters, and long distance romances increasing, SMS or texting
has just become a very convenient way of life. Couple texting
and SMS with emails and IM, you don't even need to actually
speak to anyone anymore to have a relationship or friendship.
SMS and texting are known for their preciseness. Something
like "Mt me @ 9PM, R spt" or "IM @11??" can change your entire
calender in a few short seconds. There is no need for 2 calls,
long drawn out emails, or any confusion about detailed exchanges.
In fact, texting is a 13 for people with 7 lives that literally
need to book time with each other.
How far-flung is SMS for dating? Mobile phone companies are
making it more available to their consumers, because each
SMS sent literally means cash in their pocket.
Recently, Cingular Wireless conducted a survey to find out
if mobile phones and SMS had really affected their customer's
romantic relationships. Their findings proved that SMS is
in fact the new dating tool of the 21st century:
- 38% of users said one of their dates had responded to
text messages sent during a dinner conversation. Of those
38%, 31% of them admitted to doing the same.
- 10% of users have texted someone out of their lives. This
makes the Sex and the City "Post-It Note" episode look aggreable.
- 17% have texted to get out of an uncomfortable date.
- 12% used texting news reports as a conversation starter
with their date or partner.
- 8% said a relationship has ended over offensive texting
behavior.
- 28% would rather text their partner than get stuck in
a long conversation.
- 5% have used their mobile phone to text another love
interest while on a date with someone else. 7% claimed they
suspected their date of doing the same thing.
- 6% say they assess someone else by how they text
- 59% of regular daters use texting to communicate with
their dates, and 30% of married couples do the same thing
with their spouses.
It just goes to show, that SMS and texting are not only
more far-flung in the dating world, it seems it is almost
a requirement today. Go ahead, reach out and send a message
to someone you care about.
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