Text Messaging: History, Development and Influence on Society

Introduction

What is texting? Texting is a common tool of communication through two electronic devices such as mobiles and laptops in the form of numerical and alphabetical characters. Which can be benefited by one or more users bodies in conveying messages and chatting means in an easy way. With the beginning of SMS (send message services) texting had become one of the frequent use of communication by various organizations such as governmental and nongovernmental bodies even for personal means. Along with the revolution in the world of science and technology, texting had been improved up to digital and multimedia messaging, which includes of conveying sound, pictures, videos, location,s and even emojis (ideograms), which speak more than a thousand words.

No doubt that Joseph Priestley had said an un-neglectable truth “The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate'', but still it is one of the most emerging sources of communication more than two decades. Either in the form of web texting or mobile texting, its use is expanding, even though texting is a source of earning, such as SMS marketing and many other software and platforms which provides a way of income.

In the current interchained world of globalization and communication, texting is defined in different terms and modalities, which include instant messaging, email, and web texting which includes social media websites and apps such as Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Hangouts, and a lot more. Texting is one of the most common and most used mediums for chatting. There are endless websites that can be found throughout the web which is hosting chat rooms where instant messaging is done anonymously around the globe. Some leading chat rooms are TalkWithStranger, Omegle, Shaggle, Chat42Online, E-Chat, and a lot more.

History of Texting

The journey of communication can never be determined precisely, like one can say texting started from the beginning of time, such as pigeon post, but the most appropriate hypothesis regarding the base or origin of texting is derived from the discovery of Telegraphy. While comparing with the modern texting pattern the most linked and apparent source was the invention of the telex which was as TWX and also which can be traced back to the teletypewriter. After all these, the most popular source of texting in the 80s was Text-only which was a paging system under numeric characters which was initially a one side text conveying method only. Later on till the beginning of the 90s, it improved to a two-way messaging application, applied by both businesses and consumers due to an effective way of precise communications at that time, which became popular. In a short time, it was then replaced by SMS (Send Message Services) introduced by Neil Papworth who was an engineer for Airwide Solutions, who sent the first text message in 1992 which was “Merry Christmas” from his computer to a mobile phone over the Vodafone network in the United Kingdom. As we know that modern text messaging is the sending of messages from one phone to another, so this began in 1994 where person to person messaging services were provided my Finnish Radiolinja who is also known as the pioneer of modern text messaging. Later on, various other networks began this service which created a huge surface of different cellular competitors providing person-to-person texting. Finland was the first nation to provide access of messaging between organizations and within people or people to organizations and vice versa in their country.

The initial growth of texting was quite cold and slow at the beginning due to various barriers in 1995 such as slow operating and networking issues while considering privacy aspects for prepaid users. It is not necessary that all text messaging systems are using SMS, such as different alternative systems which include J-Phone, SkyMall, i-Mode, and a lot more been used in different companies and countries.

In 2007 text messaging was the most widely used data service. Texting, later on, is most often used for substituting voice calls, especially in a place where voice call does not suites or are impossible for the environment, such as meeting rooms, classrooms, or any other prohibited place. With the passage of time SMS advancement has reached to remote controlling of appliances such as home appliances. In 2012 the group messaging system or we can say the conference texting platform was developed which is in different forms such as official group texting, chat rooms, and a lot more. Flash SMS was also developed later on. It is a kind of messaging where the text appears on the screen without the user’s command and will without being stored. It is used for multiple purposes such as alarm systems, confidentiality, one-time password, and lot more.

Usage Of Text Messaging

Short Messaging services are developing very rapidly along with the passage of time in almost all parts of the world. The popularity of SMS is particularly in Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, United States and also gaining usage throughout Africa. SMS is widely used among young Asians which they consider as the most popular mobile phone application. Like in the Philippines, text messaging has become very popular in 1998 due to its endless benefits and uses. Text messaging had been so popular that so many advertising agencies and companies had entered into the text messaging business because of the effective results of advertising and conveying. In a research made in 2013, it is shown that 10 Trillion internet-based messages are sent through different services such as Facebook, Snapchat, Viber, Whatsapp, and different chatting platforms throughout the globe. So neglecting the power of texting and its benefits is not acceptable in modern times.

Applications of Texting

In the current time, so many advanced applications of text messaging is available. Some are as follows;

Microblogging

Microblogging is a platform for brief posts often used for briefing updates online, apart from traditional blogging patterns which are hosted by custom websites. Examples of microblogging platforms is Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. In such platforms, we can easily publish our Microblogs. Twitter is considered as the most appropriate platform for microblogging in the form of tweets which includes various options like hashtags, mentions, or linking with many web media resources. There is no doubt that Facebook is considered more flexible as compared to Twitter due to the vastness of data sharing length, but still, Twitter falls appropriate to terms and patterns of microblogging because facebook emphasizes more to social networking than microblogging. Besides these Google+, Instagram and Tumblr also provide the same services.

Emergency Text Services

In many countries, text messages are used to contact for emergency concerns such as warnings and precautions against emergency situations. The core purpose was to benefit disabled people, but later on it was used widely for countering emergency situations for all. In some countries there were issues regarding signal strength, so SMS texting is used as an alternate mode of conveying messages. It is widely used in disastrous situations as an alert tool, such as for alerting before and during Tsunami in Asia and used in many other countries of Europe against various kinds of mini and huge destruction. If we take the example of Australia, there, both voice calls and SMS alerts are used for informing the public against the emergency and alarming situations, while depending on the location of the phone or the addresses registered against the devices.

Appointment Reminder

In the current time, SMS texting is widely used as a reminder for many appointments such as hospital appointments, professional meeting reminder, any official notifications, and a lot more. It is used widely due to its effective outcome and quick response as compared to letter services.

Texting Between Multiple Bodies in a Form of Group

Group messaging is one of the biggest revolutions in the text messaging world, where a body has an option of conveying messages to multiple people and platforms at the same time, besides sending messages one by one. Its cost and time effective, either for the organization or personal use, such as invitations and a lot more in large volumes.

Marketing Services

There is a huge number of websites that provide services of free online messages, either for the marketing of their own platform or businesses for other bodies.SMS texting is widely used in advertising organizations or products under different terms and pricing policies.

Text Messages as a Source of Chat

Chatting can be done easily while texting. Many free and paid platforms are available for chatting world wide including free chat rooms, websites, and free chatting Apps even though so many other modified features are now a part of texting including free text Gifs, text stories, text reminders, and many more.

So many free chat rooms are available on the web, debating on various topics under different, where experts are available 24/7 for benefitting its users. Even many apps are available for free which are rewarding bonuses and incentives which become a source of earning just by sharing experiences, opinions, and ideas. A broad range of trending topics is also part of these platforms.

Free Texting App

There are various types of calling and texting free applications. Some areas following:

• WhatsApp
• EZ Texting
• Viber
• Telegram
• Signal
• Wickr Me
• Facebook Messenger
• Tox
• Wow Chat

Free Chat Rooms

Free chat rooms have been one of the most trending sources for interactions between people across the globe. Some of the best and most used free chat rooms are as follows:

• TalkWithStranger
• Match.com
• Badoo.com
• Charmdate.com
• Enterchatroom
• Date.com
• iHookup.com
• Chatroulette

Emojis & Gifs For texting

Emojis are ideograms and smileys which are used to express facial expressions in terms of responding to situations instead of using words. Emojis had become almost the most common term used in the texting world. Emoji is a word derived from a Japanese word. It originated under a japanese phone model in 1997. Then It became popular because of its alternate feature of picture character effects and it was installed in mobile operating systems worldwide in 2010.

Gifs is an abbreviation for Graphics Interchange Format which contain a still or moving image. The gift contains multiple frames which make it animated and easy to create. Riffsy’s GIF keyboard launched in 2014 which gained millions of users and downloads in the first three weeks of its launch. Gifs are kind of an upgraded version of emojis like a way of sharing “I am Stressed” , “I love You” or something funny which expresses further different feelings. Some of the most popular GIFS keyboards are as follows:

• SwiftKey Keyboard
• Go Keyboard
• GIF Keyboard
• New 2020 Keyboard
• Fleksy Keyboard
• Bubble Keyboard
• Marathi Keyboard

Anonymous Texting

Anonymous texting is a way of texting anonymously around the globe without showing identity. It is mostly used for wishes and surprises for our loved ones our for pranks. It may vary both positive and negative aspects. It is very easy in use, no need for registrations or any kind of signups, just simply choose the preferred number of different regions and countries and enter your text. With a couple of clicks, it will be sent or either scheduled for sending later. Some are paid services and some are free. Some of the popular anonymous texting websites and Apps are as follows:

• SendAnonymousSMS
• TalkWithStranger
• Textem
• TextForFree
• SeaSms
• TxtDrop
• Anontxt
• WCW Anonymous
• DingTone
• HushlipAnonymous
• Pro Send Anonymous

Texting Games

Texting games are games based on texting between multiple users which includes an organizer or we can say referee, in which users play in the form of answering questions, or fast responding, and in a lot of other different patterns. Some of the texting games are named as:

• Would You Rather
• I Spy
• 20 Questions
• Abbreviations
• Never Have I Ever
• Story Time
• What If
• Personal Trivia
• HangMan
• Kiss, Marry, Kill
• Truth or Dare
• Silly Pictures
• Emoji Translation
• Fill In The Blanks

Texting Story

Texting a story is a commonly used form of texting, in which people express or share the moments of their day or occasion in form of text through different media applications. It is now mostly used because of its ease, not even to scroll the screen, just a click or simply nothing, and keep watching different stories. There are different texting story Apps and websites, such as:

• MustRead Chat Story
• Text Story Maker
• Seen
• Plop Chat Stories
• Hooked Chat Stories
• EZ Texting
• SMH & WYM in Texting

What does SMH mean in Texting?

SMH is the abbreviation of Shake My Head. It first emerged in 2000 as a way of marking tone. It was first entered in the urban dictionary in 2004 and got spread via Twitter in 2007. It got popular after the publications of Vice and Bustle in 2010. Then a website was established named SMHMeansWhat in 2015 by giving examples of SMH in text form and in GIFS. It is used widely in multiple platforms and aspects as form code and confidentiality due to its instant features. SMH in Texting is a popular mode of using online acronyms in which users feel better in expressing the same condition, gestures, and body language of self or surrounding behavior through a few abbreviative letters. Some SMH in texting are:

• LOL!
• ROFL!
• WTH!
• WTF!
• OMG!
• OOMF!
• DWU!
• IIRC!

Well WYM It is the acronym for What You Mean. It is used commonly in Media and social apps.WYM is an expression of questioning in the case for un clarity. WYM is in terms of understanding. It is just a simple term used for an instant response toward understanding.

Various Effects Of Texting

There is no doubt that texting and its effects are remarkable and it has deeply affected the whole world.

Social Effects

There are several Effects of Texting in Social terms. Some may be positive and some may be negative, depending upon the scenario, condition, and the consequences. Where it brought ease in connection with loved ones, it is also a huge threat towards security, and its misuse led to disturbance in life. Like everything else, it also has various effects, some are as follows;

Effect on Language

The effects towards languages are both, positive and negative. Either it made communication and language dealing easier, or it destroyed the whole origin and grammar of the actual words and their meanings, language faces dual aspects of texting, negative and positive. One of the positive aspects is predicting and recommending tools which suggest the correct word and grammar in texting.

Texting While Walking & Driving

While walking or driving if we start texting it may distract us from the current surroundings and situations and may lead us towards major cases such as accidents and disasters. On the other hand, modern texting services have also improved texting while walking in the form of quick responses, auto-generated messages, and template services.

Love, Romance, and Sexting

Where texting had provided ease in staying connected to loved ones in the form of love words or romance, it gave a lot of ease for different throughout the globe in sharing their love in Love and Romance Feelings. While Sexting is a debatable concern of texting, depending on different regions of use and their cultural policies. Where some say that sexting had made easier in exciting pleasure and ecstasy within, it also had promoted vulgarity, sexual abuses, and limitless openness of youth. Mental and physical health is also a major issue which is affected by sexting, including bullying.

Law and Crime

Law and crime have also been affected thoroughly by texting. If we take the positive aspects, it had also maintained the national security along with tracing crimes and confidentiality of information. Where it concerns to the damages in the form of cries, texting had also played an important role due to some loopholes and barriers in the texting policies. Either it is scamming, bullying or threatening people are facing various issues throughout the globe on a daily basis.

Health Care

Health care has been benefited by texting in the form of warning texts against different spreading diseases by the health authorities. Giving precautions and counter techniques against diseases is a commonly used method throughout the globe by many governmental and non-governmental authorities. Where health is benefitted, health is also affected badly by the common usage of texting, Specially eyesight and mental absence. Texting had also been a huge threat for concentration while distracting up to fatal consequences.

Texting Summary

Texting had roomed itself in almost every part of the globe. It has a great influence and crucial role in the lives of people and organizations. It has impacted the whole society in endless terms and aspects. No matter what the facts and figures are, youth, teenagers, young and old all are using it directly or indirectly in many means.

Texting had made advancements in a very rapid way in a short passage of time. Either if we take the beginning of Telegraphy Texting as a means of communication in expressing phrases from symbolic signs to the revolution of texting in the form of advanced features such as Emojis and Gifs, which speak a thousand words in small bits, Texting had developed at a high instant pace.

No one can deny the usage of texting from the beginning to the current time, even in the future. It has played its role in all walks of life, either it is a professional field or a personal casual moment, texting had made its space in everyone's life. There are now countless applications of texting, starting from messaging and giving commands towards home appliances by remote control texting. Chatting is known as the core of texting because it is the most commonly used. Free Chat Rooms, Free Texting App, Microblogging, Anonymous Texting, Texting Games, Texting Story, SMH & WYM, and lot more had become the core of chatting through texting.

Texting had also affected the world in different aspects. Endless positive and negative usage of texting is performed throughout the globe. Where it is a huge revolution in some areas it also acted as destruction. Either it is Law, Crime, Health, Love, Business, Authorities or Personal usage, texting has played a vital role. If we sum up all the facts and figures regarding texting, so we can say it is a huge shift towards advancement which have a deep role in different bodies.