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Texting for Parental Avoidance?

By Anne Collier - Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:45pm PDT
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According to an executive in Disney's U.S. mobile phone division, kids will let parents' calls go to voicemail, then text Mom or Dad about what's up, says a CNET report.

Kids prefer texting to talking with parents (and friends) "so that they can continue doing other things like play video games with friends," says the Disney executive.

And check out the texting numbers CNET's Stefanie Olsen reports, citing C&R Research in Chicago: "The average teen generates between 50 and 70 text messages a day, or as many as 18,000 a year." Nearly 50% of US 10-to-13-year-olds and 83% of teens own cellphones.

How about your family? Are your kids avoiding your calls and texting instead? Tell us about your experiences in our comments!

Related: cell phones

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Other Parents Say…

Showing 1-7 Comments of 7

Posted by Derb Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:09pm PDT

not my children ,,sure they Text but they no better than not to answer me

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Posted by Kati B Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:43pm PDT

My kids are too young to text, but I was shocked when my 7 YO knew what it was. He is already asking for a cel phone! My friends' 10 YO son just got a cel phone and I am appalled! My co-workers 7 YO textx him throughout the day! I can't believe it!

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Posted by nyssarey[; Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:31pm PDT

My friends daughter has a prepaid cellphone and texts to save minutes. I think its a good idea. Yet I would still prafer to speak with the person than text, it is kinda easyer.

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Posted by nicholef Thu Oct 9, 2008 5:58pm PDT

texting somtimes is bad

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Posted by robin Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:22pm PDT

Ohh yea i do this all the time. I need to make sure i'm not going to get yelled at before I take the call, and its not just parents. Its work, some friends, unknown numbers,just like adults do at work. Big deal get over it

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Posted by Michelle Mon Aug 4, 2008 4:44pm PDT

My 19 year old is all ways texting me and i do not like to text at all. I wish that she would just give me a call but she is all ways crying about her mins. so i do text her back. After all she is going to school and paying her own bill's. But on the other hand i have a 12 year old that calls me all the time.

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Posted by jadarain2 Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:43pm PDT

my daughter is 6 yrs. old I never thought she would even think of having a cell phone, much less a text addict, but she has been on me hot and heavy to get her a cell, I wasn't going to but, the more I think of it the more I'm thinking of doing it, shes lazy when it comes to her reading in kindergarden, now shes moving on to the first grade, and I'm thinking that it may improve her reading and spelling skills if she has to read and write texts to her friends and me!

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