New York – More Texting Leads to Mistakes Often with Dire Consequences

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    New York – Blame big fingers, tired eyes or other distractions, but odds are you’ve sent a text or tweet to someone accidentally.

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    It happens to all of us, from text-addicted teenagers to businessmen on BlackBerry Messenger.

    About 40 percent of texters admit they’ve accidentally sent a text to the wrong person, and 10 percent say they do it once a month, according to research by the makers of TextPlus, a smartphone app.

    Accidentally replying to an incoming message or clicking the wrong person on your contact list are common errors.

    “If you recognize it right away, say, ‘Sorry, wrong person,’ ” said Drew Olanoff, the “textpert” and community director for TextPlus. “You don’t want them wondering, ‘Was this for me?’ They’ll understand. It happens to everybody.”

    Even innocent texts can be problematic when they end up in your co-worker’s or your grandmother’s inbox. Humor sites have made such texts an Internet meme, posting thousands of screenshots people have submitted of their uncomfortable exchanges from texting mistakes.

    According to a recent Nielson Mobile report, teens sent an average of 3,364 a month at the start of 2011. The 18-24 age group sent 1,640 a month.

    More texting means more opportunities for mistakes, so Olanoff predicts tech companies will begin to create more safety features for users, such as a “Are you sure you want to send this text?” message or even an option to retract misfired messages.

    “There will be more things to ‘save us from ourselves,’ ” Olanoff said.


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    6 Comments
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    rebshmuel
    rebshmuel
    12 years ago

    Rachmonus. 3000+ text messages a month… Some people have no social life

    12 years ago

    You’re telling me?

    nono2
    nono2
    12 years ago

    this is so OMG

    Grumpy
    Grumpy
    12 years ago

    Since it appears that #1 never heard of “irony,” may I suggest that instead of commenting on a blog, he (or she) go outside and have a real conversation with an actual person.

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    12 years ago

    The same type of mistake can happen when e-mailing if there are multiple names in your address book that may be similar or you just are not looking carefully and hit the wrong address line. Depending on the content the result can be embarrassing.