U.S. teens prefer text messaging

WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- Text messaging has become the primary vehicle U.S. teenagers employ to communicate with their friends, a survey for the Pew organization indicates.

The survey found text messaging has surpassed face-to-face communication, e-mail and even talking on the phone as the main communication vehicle for 12- to-17-year-olds, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported Tuesday.

During an 18-month period from February 2008 to September 2009, the number of teens texting daily rose from 38 percent to 54 percent, the survey found.

Half of the teens surveyed reported sending 50 or more text messages each day while one in three managed 100 texts daily.

Half of the teens also reported texting while driving.

The survey, conducted for Pew by Princeton Survey Associates International, involved telephone interviews with 800 teens and their parents from June 26 to Sept. 24.

Statistical results were weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies.