Texting technology has influenced language, driving, bullying, and flirting in American teen culture. Text messaging has urbanized into its own subculture around a form of grammar that is incomprehensible unless you know the slang and what the abbreviations mean. According to a study conducted at the Pew Research Center, 88% of teens have a cell phone, so it's no surprise that texting has become the norm in our society. Today's teens text more than ever even if they're on a cell phone. In fact, they text so much that some critics claim it affects their language skills. Middle and high school teachers report documents written using poor punctuation, bad grammar, and inappropriate abbreviations (Russell). This is due in part to the many abbreviations and automatic spelling correction software used in text messages. According to doctors and psychologists, texting causes anxiety, distraction in school, failing grades, repetitive stress injuries, and sleep deprivation (Hafner D1). Additionally, using text messaging slang in homework sometimes becomes a habit. Texting also impacts teen driving safety. In 2008, 5,870 people died in accidents involving texting, or 16% of total deaths (NHTSA). Also in 2008, nearly 20% of all crashes during the year involved texting (NHTSA). Before texting, the only distractions were the radio, food and makeup. According to a study conducted by the University of Utah, teenagers who text while driving are six times more likely to get into accidents than those who are focused on the road. Distraction from cell phone use while driving has also been shown to extend the driver's reaction time by... .... middle of paper ...... 2010. "State Laws and Policies on Cyberbullying" . Cyberbullying warning. Vanden Corporation, October 8, 2008. Web. September 28, 2010. "Government Signs Texting and Cell Phone Bill." Read the guide. Read the Guide, June 2010. Web. September 28, 2010.Hafner, Katie. “Texting can have a negative impact.” New York Times, May 26, 2009: D1. Print.Mack, Arien and Irvin Rock,. Inattentional blindness. MIT Press, 2000. 2.Print National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Statistics and facts about distracted driving. Washington: NHTSA, 2000. Web. September 28, 2010. Russell, Lisa. “The Effects of Texting on English Grammar.” eHow. eHow, January 4, 2010. Web. September 27, 2010. Smith, Lois. “Why texting while driving is so dangerous.” University of Utah. University of Utah, December 29, 2009. Web. September 28, 2010. “Sexting Is Surprisingly Common Among Teens.” CBS News. CBS News, Jan. 15, 2009. Web. Sept. 28 2010.