What is Youth Culture

Cell phones provide multiple mediums for communication (e.g., voice, text, video) and have become the defining technology of the 21st century. Text messaging (SMS; texting) has become a popular and regular medium for communication among adolescents. When compared to other age groups, adolescents are the most frequent users of text messaging. Adolescents are motivated to use this technology because it allows them to maintain constant communication with their social network in a convenient and private manner. Given the popularity of this technology among adolescents, research has begun to focus on the frequency of use and concerns (e.g., cyberbullying) associated with text messaging. The motivations for the use of text messaging, the influence of text messaging on relationships, and the culture surrounding adolescent text messaging have also motivated researchers and developmental scholars.