 "Photo: Neka Jones/Echo staff photographer")
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Stroll around campus during class change and it seems like everyone is walking with their heads over a hand-held device.
Did you ever wonder what they were doing?
According to the Nielsen media research group African-Americans text more than any other ethnic group in America.
Nielsen also reports that blacks use the most voice minutes — about 1,300 a month — in addition to sending and receiving the most text messages — about 780 per month.
Compared to blacks, whites use 647 voice minutes and send and receive about 566 text messages per month.
"That's the way that we all communicate. We are getting lazy," said Kanye Forney criminal justice freshman. "It's either talking on the phone or texting."
The research shows that teens send a whopping 2,779 text messages a month.
Students say they are not surprised by the findings.
"Texting is an easier and more effective way versus talking over the phone, because it is more private," said Ninecia Scott, a pharmaceutical science sophomore.
"I text because when my friends are in class I can communicate with them ... also cell phone plans have texting free but charge for talking," said Dagea Carraway psychology freshman.
The National Center for Health Statistics, lists African-Americans as less likely to own a land line and consequently will rely heavily on their cell phone for communication by voice and text.
"The more cohesive a group is the more texting is likely," said Thomas Evans, assistant chair of the English and mass communication department.
"It also depends upon where they live rather than who they are."
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