This article from April 2022 explores the etiquette around texting as a form of communication, including how different generations approach texting differently.
Consider how the ideas in the article are related to the situational context of text-based communication, and how face needs are met through abiding by the 'rules' of texting discourse.
Australian Financial Review: Do your texts make you look stupid? Here are the new rules for 2022
Useful quotes from the article:
'Agreed-upon rules for how to text appropriately have imploded amid a global pandemic, the proliferation of social media apps and the breakdown of work-life boundaries. Search Twitter for “texting etiquette” and you’ll find a range of contradictory complaints – is it rude to let a text sit or rude to expect a response? Is the thumbs-up emoji passive-aggressive? Does an all-caps message demand an all-caps response? Generational differences make things even harder, as teens progress from literal to ironic emoji use while our aunts continue to reply “OK”.'
'What may once have been a letter, voice mail, phone call or email now often arrives in a text – and that collapse of contexts makes it tough to know which rules to follow.'
'We're done fighting over punctuation. Sorry, sticklers – this ship has sailed. A good text makes sense to its recipient, but that shouldn’t require consulting an SAT grammar workbook, Markowitz notes. After years of reduced social contact, she’s happy when someone reaches out, even if their style of texting is totally different from hers. Skipping the capitalisation or leaving off a question mark doesn’t denote a lack of respect. Millennials and Gen-Zers aren’t exempt here. It’s time we embrace the dreaded Gen-X ellipses . . . even if it makes our anxiety spike . . .'
'Keep in mind that different generations have different comfort levels with texting. Your grandma’s insistence on signing her name to every message may be unfortunate, but it’s not a big deal. Try to avoid any shorthand your recipient won’t understand, and have grace when your dad sends a winky face.'
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