Molly Edmonton estimates she sends between 100 and 125 text messages a day, mostly to close friends and her 11-year-old daughter, Alexis.
Wireless companies report that Americans send over 75 billion text messages a month. The popularity of texting has increased by 900 percent in four years and the fastest growing group of texters are soccer mom’s who have figured out the best way to reach kids who don’t call back is via text. Over 95% of text messages are read by recipients.
By the numbers
Text messaging by parents is outstripping the growth rate among younger generations.
# 28 percent of moms use text messaging to coordinate family schedules and errands
The overall growth in texting is driven by:
# of adults who use texting to “talk” while they’re in meetings
# of parents who are using text messaging as a way to interact with each other and stay connected with their kids. Source: Verizon Wireless
“(Texting) doesn’t take up as much time as making a call,” she said. “It’s short and to the point, and I can find out what I need to know without having to get through all the small talk of a phone conversation.”
All those messages add up, and industry experts say that more text messages are sent each day in the United States than there are people who populate the country. Who’s sending those messages: Moms just like Edmonton.
“Women are using the devices to manage the hectic schedules of their families,” said Caran Smith, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless carrier.
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