An AT&T commissioned survey reveals that text messaging is not just for kids. Many parents
view text messaging as a convenient way to stay connected with their
children. The survey, conducted by Synovate, showed how and when parents text with their children and vice versa.
Children text most often with their friends, and
parents text most often with their children. Seventy-nine percent of
parents surveyed said they text with their children most often to tell
them to come or phone home, representing the most common type of
parent-child text message. Children, on the other hand, said they text
their parents most often to tell them when they're going to be home (88
percent).
The survey showed that both parents and children have positive opinions about text messaging. For example:
- Most parents agreed that their children are more likely to keep
them informed of their activities or whereabouts with text messaging
(76 percent). - Most parents think that their children are more likely to respond to a text message (73 percent).
- Half of parents surveyed think that text messaging makes them a "cool" parent (50 percent).
-
For children, text messaging is easier than calling friends (84
percent) and makes it easier to tell their parents where they are (82
percent). - Children like the privacy of text messaging (65
percent), the cool/hip factor (49 percent) and that it's a better use
of time than calling (48 percent).
"Text messaging has proved to be a powerful tool to help parents and
kids close the communications gap," said Alecia Bridgwater, director of
Messaging for AT&T's wireless unit. "Not only does text messaging
allow parents to enter their child's world, but it provides an
unintrusive way for families to stay in touch throughout the day as
needed, whether it's coordinating schedules, sending reminders about
doctor's appointments or just texting a 'thinking of you' message."
"Texting is sometimes the easiest way to keep track of my kids,"
said Janet Sturley, a mother of three. "They're so much more likely to
respond quickly to a text message, and it's the most convenient and
inexpensive way to keep tabs on them. I've become extremely fluent in
the language of text."
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted online by Synovate
during July 22-Aug. 4, 2008, with 1,048 online interviews conducted
among parents and 1,022 online interviews conducted among
children/young adults.