Third of US teens with cell phones send over 100 texts a day!

Texting seems to have become the most popular means of communication among young people in the US, with a third of teenagers using cell phones to send more than 100 texts a day, says a new research.

According to the study, texting has risen dramatically even since 2008, eclipsing cell phone calls, instant messaging, social networks - and talking face-to-face.

The study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project also revealed that three-fourths of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 now own cell phones and of those that do, girls typically send or receive 80 text messages per day and boys, 30 per day.

"Texting is now the central hub of communication in the lives of teens today, and it has really skyrocketed in the last 18 months," The Washington Post quoted Pew researcher Amanda Lenhart as saying.

The researchers in the study also say that, unlike phone calls, text messaging can be quietly carried out under the noses of parents, teachers or other authority figures and, unlike computers, it can be done almost anywhere.

"We've kind of hit a tipping point where now teens expect other teens to respond to text messaging and to be available. There is definitely an element of text messaging that fits so seamlessly into their lives," Lenhart said.