Texting in Sick

Book excerpt: Did you know that the average American spends over 3 hours texting every day? We text with our friends, family, lovers, and colleagues-sometimes even with strangers. In the last decade, we've witnessed a dramatic shift in our communication culture. We are no longer predominantly voice-based. Text messaging is now the most influential communication form of our time. Drawing on the latest research as well as unique interviews and surveys of over 4,000 young people, business owners, and college counselors, Texting in Sick reveals that texting has become the preferred medium for many people-even in complex conversations, such as reporting in sick for work, delivering bad news, and breaking up relationships. But what happens to our relationships when we handle such conversations on text? How does texting change our attitudes and expectations towards the people we communicate with? And how are trust and empathy impacted when we use a medium with such a limited range of social cues? In Texting in Sick, you'll uncover the answers to these questions and explore the cultural, psychological, and technological trends behind the growing use of texting and smartphones. Filled with compelling research and plenty of tweetable statistics, Texting in Sick urges us to take a fresh look at our communication habits and reconsider the ways we engage with our mobile devices.