Stop Hating On Texting
Written by Shannon McManus, Culture Staff Writer, and Illustrated by Katie Herrick, Culture Editor
I’ve noticed many habits of mine while texting my friends. After almost every text, I send a “lol” or “haha,” even if the message isn’t necessarily funny. But I’ve also noticed that it’s not just me.
I decided to take a look back on my messages and found so much variety in my conversations, whether it be after sharing funny stories or just after a normal everyday update.
While it makes sense after jokes, what about the serious conversations? Even all of the less serious conversations, why do we feel the need to say “lol” after everything? Why do we have an inherent need to not show seriousness over text unless it’s a super serious topic?
For me personally, I see it as adding a sense of lightheartedness to make sure I am not being offensive. People respond in different ways to the same texts. Messages can be construed as offensive or in a different tone than what was meant, which creates a problem for communication.
When people first begin texting someone, they have to establish how they speak in messages. This is not as much of a problem for people in the same generation or the same friend group, but it can be challenging for relationships that are new or between generational gaps. Sometimes texting my mother has been tough because we both have different texting styles—her style is more formal while mine is much less serious.
People also communicate differently depending on how often they message others. Many of my friends typically have their phones right by them to respond at all times, but a few are known for not responding for days. This can also impact friendships, especially if people do not realize that it takes others longer to respond, regardless of who the message is from or what it is about.
Messaging is obviously different from face-to-face communication, but it can also be beneficial for more reasons than people may think. It is a lot easier to text someone when you have time to think about what you are going to say. It can also be comforting to go back and read old messages when you want encouragement or a mood boost.
Starting a friendship over text can be helpful to get to know someone without the added pressure of speaking fluidly for a period of time. People can hold a conversation throughout the day instead of just for an hour or two. Additionally, you don’t need to schedule a specific time or day to talk. For people with busy lives, it can be helpful to have the opportunity to respond when is best for you.
In the end, communicating over text is not as bad as the stigma makes it seem. What is important is to learn that different people communicate in different ways, that not everyone can respond right away and that tones might come off differently than people wanted. Happy texting!