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'Psychology of SMS' research shows 92% of smartphone users still prefer text over IM and social networking

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By The Drum, Editorial

July 18, 2012 | 3 min read

Global leader in mobile messaging, Acision, has revealed the findings of its ‘Psychology of SMS’ research which examines the behaviours behind text message usage. Following recent Ofcom survey which uncovered texting has overtaken talking as the UK’s preferred method of communication, psychologist Graham Jones questioned 2000 respondents in the UK and US to provide a comprehensive observation of text messaging habits across different age groups and genders.

Acision’s research showed that men communicate via text more than women; men send texts, on average, to 17 different contacts, amongst women that drops to 13. But men send far shorter messages than their female counterparts as they find texting a functional and easy way to communicate without getting into a conversation.

As well as differences in gender the survey found that there were vast differences in texting habits across age groups. 94 per cent of 18-35 year-olds uses SMS, with the 18-25 year-old bracket sending, on average, 19 messages per day, or 133 messages per week, more than double any other age group. Over 55 year-olds send 55 per cent of their messages to family, while only 19 per cent of under 25s text family, 45 per cent text friends.

The key reason for sending SMS messages amongst respondents was reliability; despite the rise of IM and social networking 92 per cent of smartphone users still prefer SMS and over half (69 per cent) said they’d be lost without it. Psychologist Graham Jones who evaluated the study commented: “The findings of this study show that text messaging remains popular, and I believe this comes down to trust and reliability. If a user sends a message via a social network, it may feel less immediate, and there are more technological hurdles which could hinder the delivery.

“The introduction of a plethora of new messaging services may mean that people may get confused and fall back on the reliable SMS. Running in the back of the human mind is the need to do everything with the least possible effort, and we instinctively search for the easiest way to communicate. This is why we rely on and still love text messaging.”

CEO of Acision Jorgen Nilsson, added: “As messaging technology continues to evolve there is still no single contender to SMS – we are firm in our beliefs that text messaging will continue to be the most trusted, most popular platform around the world for a long time to come.”

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