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The social implications of the use of texting are
considerable according to Professor Haste, Director
of the Nestlé Social Research Programme: “Texting
is replacing speech for a large swathe of
communication amongst young people. It is immediate,
accessible, private, and gives young people
unprecedented control over how they communicate with
their friends and family.“
With 95% of young people claiming access to a
mobile phone, texting now plays a key part in their
social lives. It is used by nine out of ten (89%) 11
– 21 year old mobile phone users at least once a day
and over half (54%) use it at least five times a
day. Texting is preferred for chatting people up,
(55%), making a first date (40%) and even ending a
relationship – with more boys (34%) than girls (23%)
choosing this way of saying goodbye.
The Nestlé Social Research Programme study, which
is called “Joined up texting: the role of the mobile
phone in young people’s lives”, looks at how, when
and where young people use their mobile phones. It
reveals that:
- Young people are wedded to this piece of
technology with three-quarters (77%) saying they
‘could not bear to be without their mobile
phone’
- The telephone conversation is no longer a
private act; it is a public event. There is
little inhibition to interrupting a conversation
to answer the phone and little pressure to
moderate one’s voice. Two thirds (66%) of mobile
phone users would ‘always’ answer their phone
when in a public place with friends, and only
18% would ‘always’ deliberately talk quietly in
public places. Sixteen per cent ‘sometimes’ or
‘always’ leave their phone ring-tone on in the
cinema. “Young people are not just conversing
with their friends; they are parading or
displaying their connection to their friends.
It’s a sign of being part of the group, as well
as the most efficient way they have of keeping
in close touch with their group,” says Professor
Haste.
- Owning a mobile phone makes young people
feel more secure, (77%) with 73% claiming to
have used their mobiles for contacting friends
or family during an emergency. Nearly a quarter
(24%) have used the mobile to ask for emergency
help or make 999 calls.
- Wearing a phone on a belt is a fashion no-no
for three quarters of young people, and over
half would ‘never’ keep their phone in a special
pocket in their bag either. The most popular
place is a pocket, (for nearly four out of
five).
According to Professor Haste: “How the mobile
phone looks is a fashion statement and using a
mobile phone, and being seen to do so, is part of
being credible with their peers. For these young
people it is a prosthesis of the body, an extension
of oneself.”
The study, which is based on fieldwork by MORI
amongst a representative sample of 725 young people
in Britain aged between 11 – 21 in April and May
2004, is the third published by the Nestlé Social
Research Programme. The first two, which were
published in 2004, looked at young people’s
attitudes to science and health.
Ends
For
further information and photos please contact:
Penny Clifton/Kelly McMorran, Nestlé Social Research
Programme Secretariat
Tel: 020 7388 9988
Email:
clifton@spreckley.co.uk
Web:
www.spreckley.co.uk/nestle
Technical note:
the research was carried out by MORI using a
representative national sample of 1,058 girls and
boys aged 11-21 years during April and May 2004. The
self-completion questionnaire was versioned and 725
young people answered questions relating to
technology and mobile phones. 687 are mobile phone
users. Interviews among school and college pupils
were conducted in 25 establishments on paper during
self-completion sessions. Interviews with university
students and others not studying were conducted via
an on-line self-completion questionnaire.
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