Text Messages Replace Traditional Dating

Singles are becoming more and more cautious. Some singles don't give out their business cards anymore, whereas that seemed like a less intimate and safer way to exchange numbers in the past. Singles are back to writing their non-traceable cell numbers on a napkin or the back of the restaurant's card where the two met.

Even dating has become more reserved. Not too long ago, the first step after meeting someone was to ask them out for a drink. After the initial meet and greet, cocktails could lead to dinner if both parties passed inspection. Now, singles aren’t even meeting for drinks right away. Instead they opt for texting. Texting is intimate and revealing enough, but not too personal nor does it require the same level of commitment as a phone call.

With the popularity and rise in usage of texting came the emergence of a new language tailored to the immediacy and compactness of this new communication media. This new language can make text messages appear to be written in their own foreign language. (Online auction abbreviations can be found here.) Even though texting can be abundant with acronyms and slang, limited character usage obliges that messages be quick, charming, and engaging sound bites, which necessitates intelligent wit.