Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today the findings of a survey focused on family texting habits. The survey revealed that text messaging has broadened the lines of communication for many parents and teens, with over half of those reporting it has actually improved their relationship.

Teens are teaching text
Teens are text messaging far more than their parents; however, the survey suggests that teens are also passing their text know-how on to mom and dad.

• On average, teens send 455 text messages each month and receive 467 – that’s roughly 15 text messages sent and 16 messages received each day.
• On average, parents send 84 text messages each month and receive 96.
• Almost six in ten (57%*) moms and dads who text, say their kids have helped them become better texters.
• And teens are taking notice. When it comes to their parents’ skills, nearly seven in ten (66%) teens believe mom and dad are doing a fair or good job at texting.

More parents texting kids
As parents join the world of texting, the survey suggests that more parent-teen communication is being conducted by text.

• Nearly seven in ten (68%) American parents communicate with their kids by text message.
• Nearly six in ten (56%) teens, ages 13 – 19, report that they communicate more often with their parents since they began text messaging.

Texting is improving relationships
Not only are more and more parents and teens communicating through text, but for many, text messaging has actually played a role in improving their relationship.

• More than half (53%) of teens that text message think their relationship with their parents has improved because of text messaging.
• More than half (51%) of parents who text with their teens agree that they communicate more often with their kids now than they did before they began text messaging and that text messaging has actually improved their relationship.

“Finding a way to communicate with teenagers can be difficult for many parents,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Telecommunications America. “What this survey shows is that communicating with teens the same way they communicate with each other, by text messaging, may be a great way for some parents to improve the lines of communication. And with more than a billion text messages now being sent each day, I think we will see this new trend in parent-teen communication continue to grow.”

The survey, commissioned by Samsung Mobile, was conducted by Kelton Research and included 300 American teens ages 13 – 19 and 500 American parents with children ages 13-19.

 ^*All decimals are rounded to the nearest percentage point. This may result in certain numerical totals adding up to slightly more or slightly less than 100%.