Last week there was a letter to the editor in MediaPost's Online Media Daily Section Three:
Email Generation Gap
RE: Emailing It In (Mobile Insider, 08/07)
From: Kimmie Smith, Â Kitten Lounge
I am 28, and my mom is great at emailing me - but many times the things that she replies could be sent in a text message, or, since I have TwitterBerry, she could just use that. With everything that's out now, it does seem like a lot to sit down and have an email when in under 140 characters you can sum up the essence of your conversation. It's amazing how literally everyday there is a new application that makes the one you downloaded last week seem like it's already a dinosaur!
It reminded me of my undergrad business communications classes I taught at UMass Boston. I had to reiterate that using text abbreviations for business is not the norm. And that while it's great to be simple in conveying your message, you need to provide a greater context in many cases.
Texting also eliminates much of the emotional, human side of communicating with others. I find this to be true when I'm Twittering. When I break down a message to 140 characters I have to strip out much of my own personality that would normally color such messages. I think that, unless you are a prolific Twitterer, it is hard for someone to really get to know you in that medium. There isn't enough of you that bleeds through the few characters you are able to post.
I read this email not long after I had a conversation that I had with a Swedish regular at the local bar my husband and I frequent. We had talked briefly about hooking up for dinner and to text him and let him know what worked for me. I told him that he would be one of the only people I may text, not because I myself am opposed to texting, but because I just don't know that many people who text. He was surprised...he says he texts everyone he knows. But I just don't know of many people. Well, aside from my dear friend Angela who always texts me on birthdays and holidays. I do text from time to time though. I use Twitterberry when I'm updating Twitter when I'm out and about. And on random occasions I'll text my husband or my sister, but neither of them ever text me back. Instead when I talk to them next they'll mention they got it.
In fact, the people I do know that text frequently tend to be younger (I've got nearly 10 years on Ms. Kimmie) or they tend to be European. Still, more and more people are using text messages to communicate, with the Mobile Data Association reporting that there is a 30% annual increase in the number of mobile phone messages being sent, with 212,616,000 SMS text messages are being sent every day.
Still, Habeas, a secure e-mail service provider, commissioned news polling company Ipsos on a survey that found that:
- Sixty-seven percent of respondents prefer email as a communications channel over other online vehicles and 65 percent believe this will continue to be the case in five years.
- Consumer opinion of the future importance of email registered far above future expectations for video conferencing (19 percent), instant messaging (17 percent), SMS text messages (12 percent) and Web meetings (12 percent).
- Sixty-five percent of the demographic between the ages of 18 to 34, the age demographic most comfortable with IM, SMS and emerging communications methods, will favor email to communicate with businesses in five years.
This last point is interesting in light of the original email I cited. I wonder if Kimmie will change her tune as she gets a bit older, preferring the larger context of email for communications. Texting doesn't really work well for business use. I even become confused/frustrated with some of the Blackberry messages that I receive from colleagues that are too short to convey true meaning. I can't imagine replacing most of my email message communications with friends by using texts. Maybe it's the writer in me, but I just need more space, more information, a way to make sure my words and intent is clear. It will be interesting to see how the habits of the millenials and gen-y will change as they age. Technology is also bound to change as well - what will be the next killer technology to replace texting?
I do think that texting probably hits home a bit more in the US with my generation and above, not so much as a two-way communication tool, but rather as a way to receive alerts. In and amongst the mobile twitters I choose to receive I do receive the random alert on what is happening in the Heroes world or what the story is with the weather.
And now, you can find out INSTANTLY (before it even is Twittered) who Barack Obama decides for a running mate. Talk about an up-to-the-minute alert! Not sure why that matters so much if you find out first or second, but if you really care, here's the link. I do think that this tactic is interesting, playing off of people's need for instant gratification, while scoring them more email addys and phone numbers. From a marketing perspective, I find it a great idea.
Oh, and something else to keep in mind: texting can be dangerous.
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