U R dumped
People all over the world are turning to text messages and instant messaging when they need to end their romantic relationships. In the United Kingdom, 15 per cent of those people surveyed said they have been dumped by text or email. A North American poll, conducted by the Associated Press and AOL, showed 12 per cent of teenagers who use instant messaging have employed it to say "we're done."
"Most of us send emails and texts every day, so it comes as no surprise they are now being used to ditch someone - however distasteful this is," Rick Barnes, of moneysupermarket.com, which conducted the UK survey, was quoted as saying in a Dec. 14 article in the Globe and Mail.
According to the UK poll, 2,194 people were surveyed. One per cent said they would use a social networking site to end a relationship. Barnes wonders if this will increase with MySpace and Facebook becoming so popular.
The American poll, which was featured in a Nov. 21 AP story, seems to show young people want to hide behind their computer screens when delivering what is likely considered bad news. Forty-three per cent of teens said they use instant messaging for something they would not say face-to-face.
"I've had some crazy ex-girlfriends," Lewis Grove, a second-year college student from Ohio, was quoted as saying in the AP story. "(Breaking up) in person would probably not be the best idea for my physical safety."
Grove and other teens also hit the keys when they are looking for a soul mate. According to the poll, 22 per cent of instant messaging teens have used IMs to ask someone out. Why?
"Fear of rejection - if you're face-to-face, you can't close out the window and disappear if you have been rejected," Grove said.
As technology changes, Barnes wonders if cyber breakups will escalate.
"Who knows what will be next? Will people consider leaving the country or perhaps sending a USB stick with a message on it?"
