Texting: C U L8R

If you are one of 70% of cell-phone users who use text messaging, you know that C U L8R means "See you later". "Texting" is now the new way to talk (or "tlk), especially for young people. But why is that?

It is a love thing
There is no debout it, text messages are for personal communication. Only 10% of messages are work related, and the peak hours for texting are between 10:30 and 11:00 at night!
Most users (64%) say texting is a good way to send romantic messages -it is easier to say "I love you" in atext message than in a phone call. Maybe that explains why more people now use texting to send Valentines`s Day messages.

Upsides and downsides
Generally, texting is cheaper than making phone calls. It is also more direct, since you can send or get information without having to ask and answer polite "How are you?" questions.
And it is more discreet, too. No one can hear your "conversations", and you can recive text menssages almost anywhere -at work, in meetings, or in class. You can also use texting in noisy places like nigthclubs, where using a cell phone is difficult.

A new language??
Because it is quicker to "write" without apostrophes and vowels, texting has its own language. And it is fun to use the symbols. For example: 2moro: tomorrow, Gr8: great, Thx: thanks, XLNT: excellent, ILY: I love you, AUOK: are you ok?
Some people say that texting encourages bad punctuation and spelling. On the other hand, more teens are writing than ever before. Now, that has to be a good thing!