Communication

In our second article for the column and in line with our current theme of communication, we shall discuss the use of the SMS amongst youths in Singapore and how it has impacted our society.

Use of the SMS amongst youths

The issue: SMS, bane or boon? The Short Messaging Service (SMS) is thought to have come into operation in December 1992, and has been hailed as the most convenient and useful form of communication in this age. According to Nokia, around 450 billion text messages were sent around the world last year alone. SMS has become a way of life for many of us, yet its implications and impacts have not been well-studied. In this article, we seek to investigate the effects of SMS amongst Singaporean youths on their relationships with others. (i.e. family, friends, teachers etc.)

A cursory oral survey of our schoolmates (aged 17 to 18) revealed that most youths used the SMS to text their friends, followed by teachers, then finally family members. Clearly, the usage of the SMS amongst youth social circles is high, and perhaps, it could be seen as a way to keep in touch with the latest ‘in’ things and to maintain social networks.

When asked what they sent text messages for, most of our peers listed social arrangements (i.e. setting up meetings and appointments) as the most common purpose, followed closely by causal chatting (i.e. ‘how’s your day’ etc.), then work related discussions and finally saying things that are normally hard to say face-to-face.

The following are some of the advantages of using the SMS that our peers commented on:

1. Relatively cheap

Especially when service providers offer plans that come with up to 700 free text messages (this is compared to mobile phone bills which are much more expensive)

2. Response and speed of communication relatively fast

Despite being slower than face-to-face communication and telephone conversations, the SMS is definitely much faster than emailing. It is also the more preferred form of communication when there are awkward things to say to the other party, which sometimes may not be convenient or nice to be spoken over the phone or face-to-face. (i.e. some things are easier to be written down than to be spoken) And this brings us to our next point.

3. Many see the SMS as the easiest way to get over awkward or embarrassing situations quickly.

Apologies, confessions, thank you messages etc. can all be conveyed with a simple 200 word text, and even better still your friend can receive it almost instantly, plus of course the added bonus of minimal contact!

4. Increased accessibility and mobility

While the SMS may not be the fast way of communication, it is certainly the most convenient. The ever-shrinking size of mobile phones these days, means that they can be carried around easily (sometimes even as a fashion accessory) and text messaging can be done almost anywhere. (Even in the lecture theatre when lessons may get boring!) This way, everyone linked by this vast network, can be reached anytime anywhere.

Of course, while there are advantages to using the SMS, many also lamented of the detrimental effects of the SMS on relationships and in particular, family relations. But how true is this? When we conducted our oral survey, this claim was surprisingly refuted, with most of our respondents replying that their relationship with family members did not suffer much. In fact, amongst siblings, SMS was also found to be a common form of communication, and yes, parents do use the service as well. Contrary to popular belief, SMS was NOT the main source of distraction amongst youths these days, but rather the television and the Internet.

The most blatant fault of the SMS would be its proliferation of bad grammer and spelling. While it is admittedly faster and more convenient to type in short form and leave out conjunctions while leaving the meaning of the sentence still clear, such a habit will spill over to our daily lives, where effects are already visible: teachers often complain that students have awkward expressions and egregious spelling in their essays.

Colloquial terms are used too often and too casually, with little regard for the person addressed, so there is little distinction between teacher and friend, resulting a an overall lack of respect and decorum when addressing higher authority. This was an apparent problem when we saw the messages that our mother had received from her students. Some begun with phrases like “Yo, what’s up?”, hardly what you ought to be saying to a teacher.

Lastly, what is most worrying is our reliance on this technology. How many of us have felt lost when we lost our handphones, or maybe even simply forgot to carry it with us just for a day? I know I’m guilty of that. Ever catch yourself unconsciously looking at your handphone screen to see if you have received a message. I’m guilty of that as well. My friend aptly summed this feeling of helplessness up when she commented that her handphone was like a third arm, an extension of her body. Scary huh?

Compiled by: Sherlyn and Shermyn; Written on: 08.06.05 © Medhospital Foundation