Impacts of Text Messaging on Adolescents’ Communication Skills: School Social Workers’ Perceptions

The primary purpose of the present research was to gain a better understanding of how text messaging has affected adolescent communication skills. This research also explored school social workers’ perceptions of ways that texting has impacted adolescents’ lives. Qualitative interviews conducted with seven school social workers explored perceptions of adolescent communication with school social workers, peers, and families, along with benefits and challenges texting presents in adolescent lives. Findings from this study suggested that texting negatively affects adolescents’ communication skills, particularly with regard to face-to-face communication skills, bullying, and teasing. Social workers should be aware of positive and negative effects of texting and of how texting impacts adolescents’ communication skills and development.