Texting

Consider these questions as you review the examples below. Try the quiz from the left menu: What Have You Learned? after you’ve spent some time with this section.

“In the US, a 2009 survey found that 1 in 5 young adults had sent online nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves and 39% said they had sent or posted sexually suggestive messages” (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy). View the following short video.

Video created on Youtube by GiveItaPonder.com

On the other hand, texting can serve as a critical means for the dissemination of important information to a large number of people in widespread locations. For example, text messaging and the use of cell phones and other hand-held devices have been used as life-saving tools:

• for HIV & AIDS education in South Africa, for example. (See aidsmap.com for more information).
• to fundraise for victims of Haiti’s earthquake. (See ‘Red Cross Raises $5,000,000+ for Haiti Through Text Campaign‘)

• “You should ponder the consequences of every text just as you might think before telling a parrot all of your secrets” (Ponderbeard tweets).
• Your text message or photo is one click away from being forwarded to another person’s entire contact list and so on and so forth… Consider what you want to pass on. Practice constructing messages you do want everyone to see.
• “Sexting becomes a legal issue when teens (under 18) are involved because any nude photos they may send of themselves would put the recipients in possession of child pornography” (wikipedia). This included apps like Vine and Snapchat.
• You are probably already a pro at networking – at least in a casual, social way. As you move forward in your academic and professional lives, it is a good idea to think about how you can hone these skills for a different audience and purpose.

“It’s critical to shift into a professional networking mode when your career is the issue at hand. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Every professional networking contact, electronic or face-to-face, needs to be carefully crafted, planned, or practiced” (boston.com).