A recent Atlantic article confirmed that texting is the preferred way for people to communicate with loved ones – yes, loved ones.

“According to a 2023 survey, texting is the No. 1 way that people prefer to communicate with their loved ones, beating out mobile-phone calls and absolutely crushing face-to-face conversations, which got only 8 percent of the vote. Texting came out ahead in every age bracket except the oldest; those 55 and older ranked texting and mobile-phone calls equally. No age group preferred anything over texting.”

YES, BUT … a third of Americans say they are overwhelmed by the number of texts they need to deal with and yet it makes us feel like we’re in control more so than conversing on the phone.  Half of young adults, according to a 2024 survey, thought unexpected calls are bad news.  I’ve been teaching at NYU for nine years and the last thing a student wants is for a professor to call them on the phone – text, yes.  Phone, no.

We’ve become our phones.  Being great at texting does not mean being good at relationships which perhaps is the reason so many people feel overwhelmed, socially concerned and lonely living by the new number one way to communicate.

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