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Study: Texting Preferred Over Verbal Conversation

MIAMI (CBS4) - Whether it's a busy street or a stop light, texting has become a part of our life and has taken over conversations.

With 83 percent of American adults owning a cell phone, a new study confirms that the majority of American adults prefer text messaging, with 73 percent using their phone to send and receive texts, according to a report from The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.

"You don't have to confront the person on the phone,"  said Miami resident Frank Sangiento.

Like Sangiento, apparently many of us prefer to write out our conversations rather than actually speak.

While texting levels have stayed the same for adults (text users sending or receiving an average of 41.5 messages on a typical day), young adults ages 18-24 are more likely to  text with an average of 109.5 messages on a normal day.

The report also found that some 55 percent of those who exchange more than 50 messages per day say they'd rather get a text than a voice call.

Could this be the end of the spoken conversation on the phone?

University of Miami Health Economist Michael French said no; it's just communication evolving. French believes technology and our youth are leading the way.

"Sometimes with a voice conversation you say something that you didn't mean to.  With a text you have a chance to pause," said French.

Overall, the survey found that the levels of voice calls have stayed the same for the adult population since their last report was released in 2010. Cell phone users still make or receive an average of 12 calls per day while the younger generation keeps texting.

Results in the report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from April 26 to May 22, 2011 with a sample group of 2,277 adults, ages 18 and older.

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