Teen Health Issues

Parents and educators find it very difficult and often get confused regarding their teenagers usage of the technology. Teens should be taught the etiquettes of technology and they should also be taught how should they be using the technology responsibly and respectfully. Teenagers use messaging as the primary means of communication among them.

Teenagers prefer messaging because they find it cheap, portable, simple and can be in contact with friends at any point of time. Every teenager is into texting and parents find it annoying to see their teens always using mobile phones. Usage mobile phones has created a sub culture and has created a language which can be understood only by the teenagers. They have started up their own texting sub language.

Pitfalls of Texting:
• Texting among the teens can be easy way of communication but it also has a drawback of miscommunication.
• Texting does not have the benefits of facial expression and direct contact so there are many chances of miscommunication to take place.
• It can be useful only to communicate the non emotional data. Most of the feelings cannot be expressed in texting though it is a great tool for making plans. Emoticons will not be of help always.
• According to a study conducted at the University of Queensland in Australia convey that messaging is as equivalent to that of cigarette smoking. Teenagers feel the urge to be connected to the things surrounding them which gradually leads to addictiveness.
• Teenagers who message constantly may lose respect among the elders. It is always better to do the extensive texting when you are alone. Constant messaging can make your family or friends who are physically present might feel less valued.
• Messaging causes constant interrupts that can cause disturbance and can make it harder to focus on the present work or task.
• About 37% of the students among 900 of them from 26 schools nation wide were found texting distracting, according to a study in 2006 by Liberty Mutual Insurance Group study.
• The worst that teenagers texting while driving and 46% of them admit it.

Rules of Etiquette for Messaging:
All the drawbacks does not mean that teenagers should stop messaging completely. Parents and educators can take the initiative in teaching the teenagers the rules of etiquettes of messaging. Teenagers can follow the etiquettes and as well as enjoy the benefits of texting avoiding the pitfalls.

Family Time:
• Avoid the usage of mobile phones during family time.
• Make live communication with parents and siblings during dinner time or the time together in a car.
• Try not to use the mobile phones completely during the time spent with the family.

Respect the Hierarchy:
• Communication is very important for everyone and it has a hierarchy.
• The hierarchy of communication is like this first comes live chat, then the video chat, then it is the telephonic chat and the last one is the text chat.
• If you feel that you need to respond to the message, then it is basic manners to take the permission from the person you are before responding. Message back to the person saying you are busy and that you will get back to them after sometime.

What you Model:
• Parents should not just give advices instead they should set an example for their teenagers and it is always better to practice what you preach.
• Following these etiquettes will no longer feel technology as an interruption or and addiction.
• Texting when done responsibly and with respect can be the best way of communication and can be enjoyed by all the teenagers.