Facts About Texting

Over 18.5 billion text messages are sent each month.

 The first text message was sent in 1992 and SMS was launched commercially for the first time in 1995.

SMS stands for Short Messaging Service

Texts are limited to 160 characters because that's the average amount written on a postcard.

Cellphone companies earn $60-70 billion each year off text messaging.


95% of all text messages are delivered within 10 seconds

The peak hours for texting are between 10.30pm and 11.00pm

51% of women would rather receive a text message than a card on special occasions

95% of all incoming text messages are read.

2 out of 3 Americans are texting on a regular basis

The response rate to text messages is on average over 90%

People who text more than 120 times a day are more likely to be binge drinkers or drug users.

Half of adults surveyed say they still prefer a regular phone call than a text.

 Only 10% of text messages are spam as opposed to 65% of e-mail being spam.

77% of people have admitted to text messaging while driving.

An overwhelming 75% of teens admit to text messaging while driving.

 Of all cell phone related tasks, talking, dialing, or reaching for the phone, texting while driving is the most dangerous.

You are 23 times more likely to have a crash, driving while texting.


200,000 vehicle crashes each year are linked to texting.

 85 percent of 16-year-olds have a cellphone

24% of 17 year olds admit to sexting.

 Text messages are usually read within 15 minutes of being received and responded to within one hour

According to Nielson, teens average sending around 100 text messages, per day.