JUST SAY IT!

Message from Trace Dominguez, everyone!

Thanks for swiping right on DNews.

According to the Pew Research Center on Internet, Science and Tech -- only 35 percent of Americans

texted at ALL in 2006.

Then in 2015 Pew reported, 100 percent of 18-29 year olds text, duh.

But 92% of people over 50 also text!

That's a lot of people doing something that didn't even exist a little over ten years

ago.

It took 80 years -- from 1900 to 1980 -- for cars to get anywhere close to those numbers…

So, when something like this takes over so quickly, scientists have to struggle to catch

up to how it's affecting us!

For example, a new study in Epilepsy & Behavior found that when some people text (either on

a phone or a tablet) a whole new brainwave appears.

In fact, the researchers said they'd never seen anything like this; this brainwave is

unique!

When a brainwave changes, it's usually because the brain activity is changing.

Think of it like the flashing light on your computer.

Different patterns can show different things, and this one is new!

The researchers aren't exactly sure what this new wave means, but they think it shows the

brain is using emotion, attention, motor-skills, and auditory-verbal activity all together.

Funnily enough, this only shows up when texting on smaller screens.

Indicating, yet again, quote, "people shouldn't text and drive," because texting changes how

the brain is functioning.

And some of those changes are for the better!

For example, in 2009 a study in Bioelectromagnetics found kids who texted had faster response

times on computer tests, but were less accurate in their responses.

In fact, kids who used mobile phones (in general) had poorer working memory, but had faster

learnings for simple and associative memory tasks! and another small study from a 2011

British Journal of Psychology argues that kids who use abbreviations while texting tend

to use fewer as they get older and more educated, and their spelling scores are better those

who didn't text at all.

Yet another study says that "skilled texting" also leads to better spelling.

There's even a really weird study that shows our brains are forming stronger connections

to our thumbs because of texting.

According to their results, in Cell, smartphone users who text had more sensitive touch on

the end of their thumb than people who didn't -- more phone use, better perception.

So strange.

But of course, there are also negatives.

Multitasking isn't real.

Our brains, cannot multitask, we can only serial task.

We can pause this main thing, and then do -- [SENDS TEXT] -- then come back to it.

But that back and forth takes a LOT more effort than just finishing the first task.

You might be arguing with me in the comments already, but that's because you're probably

overconfident, sensation-seeking, and impulsive.

People.

MULTITASKING ISN'T A THING.

In fact, Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin writes even trying to multitask increases

the stress hormone cortisol and releases adrenaline, causing scrambled thinking and mental fog

after a while.

This happens because your prefrontal cortex has to stop what it's doing, burn some energy

to save your spot, and pick up a second task.

It can do this quickly, which is why you think you're doing it simultaneously, but you're

not.

Plus, you have to decide to answer a text, causing decision-fatigue.

AND a study in Computers and Human Behavior found people who think they can multitask

spend more time studying (to make up for that switching cost) and do poorer in school overall.

Texting is changing how our brains work, how we interact with our own bodies, each other,

our environment, and how we learn and see the world.

It's a massively influential tool.

But, like any tool, learning how and when you use it -- is probably more import… [beep]

hang on i just have to answer this.

[[texting]] What was I saying?

Guys, I am not cool.

So, can someone tell me what's up with sex texting.

Is that what they call it?

Sex-exting?

Don't worry, Dr. Ali Mattu knows what I mean -- and we wanted to know if sexting can improve

your relationship!

If you're worried about being bothered by texts, I have a solution!

Turn on your airplane mode when you're working or studying.

It works!!

What do you think?

Do you have an out-of-contact strategy?