Tech Tip: How to Text Message
Texting 101
- #1 use of the cell phone? Checking the time.
- #2 is texting.
- SMS text messaging is the most widely used data application in the world.
- SMS stands for simple message service.
- Your kids send hundreds of messages each week.
- Texting includes photos and videos
- If you don't have an unlimited text plan, your costs can escalate quickly
- If you want to know what your kids are saying, learn to text.
Advice and Answers
Texting is simple.
Each phone system is a bit different but most use the same basic control menus.
To create a text message, you can either go to a contact name and click options and then click new Text Message or You can toggle through your Menu to messaging.
Once you get there, you will see four options:
- New message
- Inbox
- Sen
- Drafts (there will be other options there, too but ignore them for now).
To send a text message, you will have to enter the cell phone number of who you want to text.
Once you do that you will see a box. You "type" words in it by using the number keys. If you wanted to say hi, you would go to the number 4 and click twice to pull up the letter H and then click 3 times to bring up the letter i. Punctuation tends to live under the #1 key and spaces on the pound key.
That's it. But what if you want to see what your kids are texting? Well, many teens will not be happy handing over their phones so you have to gauge how you want to handle that. The rules are different in every house.
To check messages just go back to that menu button – toggle to messages, and check inbox. The most recent message that he received will show up first. You can use your forward button to scroll to the next and next and next.
To see what your kids have sent, just do the same thing in the Outbox.
And pictures can be part of all this…and teens sometimes send really inappropriate stuff – there's even a name for it – "sexting" You might want to tell your kids that sending sexual pictures means a) that they can lose control of them quickly since they can be forwarded, and b) it's actually pornography and there are real laws about that.
well even if my parents did snoop into my phone they would find no text messages beacause all u have to do is delete ALL of yr text messages its that simple im not stupid i know my parents are gonna snoop at somepoint
I only text a little bit, because i have to pay for my own minutes. I think this is the best approach for teens and phones. They will be more responsible if the money for texts is coming right out of their own pockets!!
My daughter sends and receives about 10,000 to 14,000 texts per month. (she's 16) I don't mind it as a way of communicating, in fact I find that we can often have a more civilized conversation by text as she is less "annoyed" in this format. I wish that weren't the case but... However, as others have mentioned,it can (and has) become too consuming. She ignores us, her sisters and her responsibilities to text unless we take the phone away. There is no "down time" from her social circle. She and her friends have very poor verbal communication skills. She would rather text than talk... even with her best friend. Also, on another note, your kids will just erase their sent and in boxes so you won't see what they've texted. In fact many phones prompt you do this as the memory of the phone can be filled up in just a few hours for a prolific texter. So you won't ever be able to see the majority of your childs texts. I am not aware of any system which saves or logs the texts so that you could retrieve them.
well i think as with anything texting can be over done but there is NO reason to check your kids texts! if you give them the phone then you should trust them!
As I stated on the previous page, my granddaughter texts about 15,000 text messages per month. I have unlimited messaging on my plan and it's better than using up the daytime minutes. There is no problem with texting. It's just the same as talking.
For other videos on how-to send a text message, check out www.Cellphonist.com.
That's as good an outline on how to text as I've seen.
But, there is an easier, more effective way, too.
WuduPlz (Would You Please) is a new, free web service built to help parents text. Why? Because it can teach teens and preteen cooperation, responsibility & commitment. OK...and to get them to what they are suppose to do. (Never easy because, well, they're kids…) It uses text messaging--a proven 21st Century way to connect with kids.
Here's the link:
http://www.wuduPlz.com
Here's our YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd-8UcdNalU
Sure, as our web site says, it's easier and faster texting if you're at your computer.
But, to make it more useful, WuduPlz can also deliver messages LATER to provide useful reminders. As one reviewer noted, with WuduPlz, "each family member with a cellphone is carrying around a little alarm clock that Mom or Dad can set to go off with a little note. Very handy."
We haven't seen anything like this, anywhere.
We selected the name WuduPlz carefully. Teenagers should not feel victimized or punished, says Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, adolescent medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “You want them to understand that the freedoms they get are directly related to how they demonstrate responsibility.” WuduPlz is designed to help parents teach this lesson.
Security is super-tight on this. WuduPlz is safe. And it’s free.
Sure, it's for parents and managing a household--but, it works for anyone who is managing teenagers and pre-teens on a regular basis. And, yes, you can send messages to your spouse or roommate, too.
It only takes a minute to sign up. You'll need to have your cellphone handy. Check it out and let me know what you think.
My parents don't give a crap about my texting. Unless I go over my 500 message limit. Which I am about to do. Lol.