Is Text Messaging Dangerous?

I wrote this blog as an assignment for my ISOM class, and I thought it would make for an interesting post on my real blog.

Texting has become a popular trend across the globe over the past few years. People of all ages are finding themselves consumed by text messaging. Constant texting can cause health issues, especially in the form of injury to the thumbs and fingers. Interestingly enough, it can also cause a ten-point drop in one’s I.Q. Pedtextrians, who walk and text at the same time, are in danger and risk their lives, especially when crossing streets. By far the most dangerous result of text messaging has been the drivers who mistakenly believe they can text while driving.



Driving while absorbed in another activity like eating or texting has been dubbed “distracted driving.” The U.S. Government saw how important the issue of distracted driving is and created a website: Distraction.gov

Oprah even created a campaign earlier this year in an effort to dissuade texting and driving called “No Phone Zone.” Through powerful episodes with personal stories, Oprah encouraged her viewers to sign a pledge to make their cars a No Phone Zone. Companies and even athletic coaches across the nation joined in the campaign. My high school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club pledged over 100 students to the No Phone Zone cause.

College students especially have record texting statistics. According to a study done by the Media Literacy Clearinghouse, 18% of adults ages 18 to 24 text message more than 200 messages a day. It seems like, on campus at BSU especially, much of this texting is done while walking. We have an excessive number of “pedtextrians” here, and I’ll admit to being one of them.

Last week, I was pleased to see a group at the Scramble Light passing out flyers and recruiting students to sign a pledge to not drink and drive. What I would love to see though, is the same thing, but involving distracted driving. To me, this would encompass drunk driving and texting while driving, not to mention all the other distractions to which we succumb.

The best way to cope with the potential dangers of texting, of course, is to avoid text messaging. This is not really a feasible solution in today’s society though. So another resolution is to decide to make the car a No Phone Zone, like in Oprah’s campaign. To avoid the pedtextrian dangers, simply wait to reply to text messages until standing still. Then put the phone away while walking. This is something even I, myself, need to put into practice everyday.

It is all a matter of concern for personal safety and the safety of others.