Focus: Phone messages

There are reportedly over 2 billion mobile phone users in the world. This single statistic makes it one of the most important tools of verbal and written communication in this day and age. The Short Message Service or SMS, which was born in the 1990s, is considered to be an invaluable asset of the mobile phone service system. It helps you stay in touch, get a message across or text talk at minimal cost. However, it seems to be facing increasing misuse. Readers debate its pros and cons.

People's writing skills are deteriorating with messaging.

Do you mean handwriting? Yes, definitely … to a certain extent it has. It had a definite effect on me; I check an email three to four times, read it over and over to make sure that it's correct because of the usage of abbreviated words like "u" and "wats". You have to be careful. The SMS language is very convenient, but only for personal use.
– Imran Khan
Dubai

For some, it has. You just slip into it without noticing. It happens unconsciously. Even when you are writing something official, you suddenly discover you spelt "your" as "ur". I think this is the price we pay for having so much technology; it's a natural result. Even with the children these days, because they are so used to it when they are chatting or sending messages.
– Mu'tasem Al Quatli
Sharjah

Definitely, it has and it has not only affected writing skills but also communication skills. We use shortcuts for everything — the wordings, grammar and even slang. We use slang so much. I think there is nothing that can be done. I mean it's technology and a lot of young minds are fascinated by it. I use shortcuts myself when I am sending messages.
– Neha Sabnis
Dubai

Definitely. People have stopped using pens and pencils. Everyone uses the computer to write! But sometimes one has to put pen to paper, otherwise it gets difficult to put down your thoughts. Everyone wants to make it fast, which is why grammatical errors occur. As far as this trend of messaging affecting one's writing skills is concerned, it depends on the training one has.
– Vipin Rajput
Dubai

It is being misused by some to sell prostitution and porn.

Well, I have been in Dubai for two weeks only and in my first five days I started getting calls and messages about this. They kept calling and messaging the same number. I have no idea how they got it. I do not like this one bit. I mean what if my daughter got the messages? It could have been my child who got it. There has to be a way to stop this.
– Paula Weir
Dubai

The idea to send messages as a means of promotion and marketing is just great. It is fast and saves time, but to be used in this manner is disappointing. Exchanging pictures, sending messages and prostitution have negative effects on people and society. There has to be some sort of control, maybe surveillance or something to block these messages. You don't want children to receive these things.
– Saleem Faitouneh
Dubai

I think companies that send these messages should be investigated and shut down. Mobile phones have the facilities to block numbers and messages; it is unhealthy if a child, who is 10 or 11 years old, gets these messages and images. It's an unhealthy practice that should be discouraged.
– Asif Omar
Dubai

No, no … these messages, if they were to be sent they should not be for the masses, not to all people. I think these messages would stop if maybe certain websites on the internet were unblocked. Nowadays mobile phones have services to block unwanted calls and maybe the same can be done for messages.
– Fadi Faqih
Dubai

There should be a child lock system for SMS.

Sometimes people receive messages that are not "pleasant". For example, they receive videos and pornographic pictures. There should be some restrictions because these messages have a negative effect on children, like the videos of Saddam's hanging. Some children tried to do the same. There should be an age limit for children to get a mobile phone.
– Fouad Al Hussaini
Dubai

Yes, well obviously we need that for spam messages as well because sometimes certain things we receive are highly atrocious. Sending certain types of messages should be made illegal. Some should even be blocked, the way it is done with spam emails. There also should be an age limit to when children can be given a mobile phone.
– Barbra Walker
Dubai

Yes, I mean my son plays with my mobile sometimes and he makes calls or sends messages by accident. A lock is not a bad idea; it's even better, especially because sometimes people get pictures and messages that children are not supposed to see. It's a form of protection. It's a way to have a better control on what children are viewing and doing. I am not with children
carrying mobiles.
– Vinoy George
Dubai

I think the idea of a child lock is nice. It protects the privacy of the user, if it is an adult who does not wish that his or her children have access to messages received on his or her mobile phone, as well as protects children from seeing wrong things. Personally, I feel that children should not be given mobile phones; at least not those under 10 years of age.
– Mahnaz R.
Sharjah

It is an extremely helpful tool to communicate.

It's very convenient. If you are busy, you can just text someone what you want to say, you do not have to make the call. But there are also companies that take advantage of this when they start sending messages to promote themselves. Those are really annoying. I think that permission should be sought from mobile phone subscribers before such messages are sent.
– Jack Milligan
Dubai

I think so. Half of the people these days just text each other because it is easier than talking on the phone. Plus when you send a message it stays, you can keep it, unlike talking on the phone where it is just words that you might forget. But with this new generation anything can happen, so you sometimes receive certain messages that are not appropriate.
– Sultan Saif
Dubai

Yes, it is definitely a good tool that makes communication faster and cheaper. Not just that, when someone is busy and is unable to speak, it is always convenient to send a message. For instance, when you are in office, sending a message is a good way to communicate and it also prevents any misunderstanding. Although, as it is a rather impersonal way of communicating, it could send the wrong signals.
– Jonathan Torio
Dubai

Yes, it is extremely helpful especially when it comes to communicating with people abroad. Sometimes you need to speak but do not have the time, then you can just send an SMS. Also sending messages is cheaper than calls. SMS makes it easier to get instant feedback.
– Bassima A.
Dubai