Less Talk, More Texting/

Less Talk, More Texting According to a new report by Common Sense Media, a non-profit specializing in kids’ technology and media use, texting is now officially the favorite form of communication among teenagers in the United States. 35 percent of the 1,000+ 13- to 17-year-olds surveyed this year stated that texting was their favorite way of communicating with friends, surpassing in-person contact which 32 percent of respondents still prefer over virtual communication. The percentage of teens choosing personal interaction with their friends over electronic ways of communicating dropped from 49 to 32 percent between 2012 and 2018, marking a trend that many parents view anxiously. Read more.

How Americans Smarten Up Their Homes Amazon held a special event on Thursday to announce nearly a dozen new devices, including an Alexa-equipped wall clock and, somewhat perplexing, a semi-smart microwave that connects to an existing Echo device to add voice commands and order more popcorn (literally). As the following chart illustrates, smart household appliances have yet to make a big impression on consumers. According to a 2017 Statista survey, the category lags behind other areas of the household both in terms of smart device ownership and future purchase intent. Read more.