Text Messaging and Facebook: the New Preferred Mode of Communication
Awhile back, when you met someone you liked, you’d ask for their number and call them later on. You’d actually have to speak to them. Chilling right? Today when we read “<3 luv u” from the person we like, our knees buckle, and we’re lost for words. Back in the day, our hearts would melt if someone received a love note, talked for long hours over the phone, or if he simply came up to talk to you in the hallway. Nowadays, Facebook and text messaging are considered our love notes and long conversations. All of a sudden, we’re checking our cell phones every other minute for texts or logging on Facebook to look for wall messages. No one said dating was easy, but dating with technology is complicated.
Facebook is a social networking cite. It can be used for planning events, connecting with old friends, uploading photos, and even dating. As a high school student becoming “Facebook Official” is the height of a couples’ relationship. After making it official to the virtual world, there’s pressure not to type anything that would question your boyfriend or girlfriend. For example, you noticed that your girlfriend “liked” her ex-boyfriend’s photo. You start thinking, “Why did she like her ex-boyfriend’s photo? Does she like him? She obviously had to be thinking of him in order to go his page to check out his photos.” One click of a button can cause issues in a relationship.
I don’t know about you, but I know a fair share of relationships that have gone downhill over a conversation that took place over texting. The miscommunication and interpretations of text messages can jeopardize a relationship. What makes the situation worse is when the two individuals won’t pick up the phone or meet face-to-face to actually talk and sort things out. If you’re constantly texting, sometimes you go down this bizarre path of exchanging electronic messages which makes it even harder to ever connect in person.
What happens when you’re in a deep text conversation with the boy you’re dating and he suddenly stops texting back? Let me say, there are many good reasons for not responding to a text message. But, racing through your mind are questions like: “Did I scare him off? Did I say too much? Was I too forward? Why is he ignoring me!?” You’re starting to become paranoid and question everything when it might just be a matter of a dead battery or his mom making him put his cell away.
I don’t think Facebook has changed dating for the better. Online, a guy can give his girlfriend a heartfelt message about how much he loves her, which he copied and pasted. With texting, you never know if the person you’re messaging is whom he/she says they are. There is a possibility that their best friend is coming up with the flirty and witty text messages. That’s why I would never do or say something online that I wouldn’t say to someone’s face. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but a face-to-face conversation is more heartwarming than an impersonal instant message or inbox.
Do you prefer building relationships online or in person? Why/ why not? Have you ever had an electronic communication go wrong between yourself and a crush? How did you handle it? Tell us why you do or don’t use Facebook and texting in your relationships!
Shannon is 16 and from Lake Forest, California. She is a member of The National Campaign’s Youth Leadership Team. She may just seem like a super athlete, but you should see her real skills when it comes to arranging fruit in decorative baskets. Have a question for Shannon? Email us!
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WHAT OTHER TEENS ARE SAYING:
Can you text and actually talk to your boyfriend or soon to be boyfriend or girlfriend? Because I know I text and talk to him when we are in school I talk and when we are out if school I text…. Is that okay?
i agrre with these people because somepeople aren’t who they say they are i would like to meet people in real life instead of on facebook. and the people may be rappesed, and they may also just want to meet you so they can steal you and use you as a ransom exchange for money.
i think its better face-to-face because some relationships on fb or txting are kind of mest up because sometimes the person you are going out with is not really what they say they are they might be like 31 years old with a young age persons picture so i really think its better face-to-face not the other way
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I think facebook is a good place to communicate with your friends but I normally just to see some comments and photos
i say its true because my cousin did the same thing and she ended up seeing that guy and violeding her so i think its better jst to say thing on fb then face-to-face :'(
i think this is true because alot these days use texing to camonucateng in their relationship lm agree
i think useing facebook or txting is a bad and good idea because if you r in a relaship the person u are talkin to wont do nun and if ur twords them it would be hard and the good thing is if ur in frount of him you can love him or her
I prefer building relationships both ways. I prefer asking someone out online because sometimes i’m shy to ask her out in person,but when i really love a girl i ask her out in person. Yes i had an electronic communication go wrong. I handled it by meeting the person face to face. Sometimes i use it when i can’t see my girlfriend in person or when i miss her. But i prefer having a relationship where we can see each other.
The article above is true because when you are in a relatioship you worry when your bf/gf is talking to her/his ex-girlfriend or boyfriend.Teens these days are differnt then the ones from the old days because they use texting or facebook instead of talking face to face to each other. Teens get pressured when they do not get a message from their bf/gf they over react to the situation and sometimes end up haveing problems or breaking up. The idea of relationships has changed alot from back then and today, one thing that has changed is that back then they gave the number chill for a moment and then call but nowadays people use facebook and texting alot instead of calling. It really changed.
i use facebook to talk to friends and to see whats going on with some kids.
i agree
i always use facebook because it is better than texting in facebook you could do alot of cool things in facebook and probably take pictures and post them on face book .ITS fun on facebook for talking to all of your friends and family members and also send pictures to your friends and family.when i text in the phone i feel so stupid because you dont even make it fun but in facebook its better.
I completely agree.
This is so true most persons text and go on fb instead of talking face-to-face with their best friend or Boyfriend. Also if you cant flirt with some one face-to-face you shouldnt do it through text. Sometimes i do text with my friends an my crush but it never gets out of hand.Most teen do use fb & texting to communicate.
This is completely true.Relationships shouldn`t just be texting each other and putting statuses or wall posts about them.I mean all that is great that means that your thinking about them but it shouldn`t be the ONLY way that two people in a relationship should talk..It should just go back to just straight up talking to each other with out text messages and social sites.Because at the drop of a hat texts and Facebook can ruin the entire relationship.It`s okay to message and text but but like I said before it shouldn`t be the only way people commuicate.
I completely agree.
This is so true most persons text and go on fb instead of talking face-to-face with their best friend or Boyfriend. Also if you cant flirt with some one face-to-face you shouldnt do it through text. Sometimes i do text with my friends an my crush but it never gets out of hand.Most teen do use fb & texting to communicate.
Useing facebook or txt could make you realationship hard. if you post or txt someone your partner doesnt like her or she could get fustrated. it wont be easy to do face-toface conversations if you do any of this. but you cant avoid the topice either. it will put dents in your relationship if you do.
I think that social networking cites are wonderful, but you have to be sure that you are safe and you are not letting the website consume your life. Also, whatever happened to just talking to people in person. Texting is also becoming to much of everyone’s lives. I strongly believe that people should interact with each other in person. This is a way to help you gain more social skills. Keep in mind that its okay to have fun online, but sometimes you have to communicate with your friends outside of the world of Technology. Two people in a relationship should talk to each other in person to keep the relationship healthy.
I totally agree with her because it is not easy, that had happened to me a lot of time even with my best friends just because mi ex post something on my wall my boyfriend got mad and I just thught it was stupid because he started telling me bad stuff and alot of lies about me that I just broke up with him.
And yes I think that it is better to talk face-to-face because it is much better than just say things to somebody you don’t really talk to in person.Facebook its good to talk with friends but its better to think about what you say before you type it.
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it makes thing worst then they already are! texting or useing facebook can make thing complicated in a relationship. it will be harder to do face-to-face conversations with your bf. your partner could get jealouse or think you dont care when you txt or post on another person facebook.
i really agree i got in a fight with one of my best guy friends just because his friend told me stuff that wasnt true. i didnt believe my friend and now we wont ever talk. its sad to that such little things can change so many things. i wish we could be friends again but it wont ever happen 🙁
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i think this is a very good story beacuse its true. with relation ships you kinda need facebook or twiter to comunicate if the other partner dosnt have a phone.
I think that that it is true because alote of peaople use the internet and facebook alot. thats how many relationships start. but they usually dont last.
This is true. I completelt agree with this. I prefer meeting people in person than online.
I use txting and fb because whn um far away I canr tlk face to face and im aroybd mt family all the so it hard to talk on the fone
I completely agree
i think that this is all true because alot of teens these days use texting and facebooking to communicate in their relationship, and not face-to-face.
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