Text Messages to Top Kisses at Midnight

20/12/2007

Besides turning to the one we love on New Year’s Eve, most people will consult their phones at midnight. Texting loved ones to bring in the New Year is almost as much a tradition as singing Auld Laud Syng.

According to the Mobile Data Association, a staggering 3.2 billions text messages are expected to be sent on New Year’s Eve this year.

BBC New reports: “From midnight on New Year’s Eve 2006 to midnight on New Year’s Day an average of 6.9 million messages were sent each hour as people rushed to wish each other a happy new year.”

This year communications experts worry about the popularity of text messaging as a mode of communication during the holidays. More traditional ways of staying in touch such as mail, phone calls and even emails have lost importance among youth. University professors studying the trend fear text messaging will allow societies and cultures to become too focused on technology to communicate.

Many merry makers are forgoing traditional Christmas cards sent via post to support a green Christmas. This is pushing the texting trend even more with young adults planning to send Merry Christmas and New Year’s Eve wishes via text.