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Etiquette tips on the proper way to send a text message

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

We love to send texts, been doing it for decades. However, that doesn't mean we've been doing it well.

(SOUNDBITE OF TEXT SENDING)

LIZZIE POST: There are a lot of people out there who really struggle to get across what they mean.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Lizzie Post is co-president of Emily Post, a family business specializing in etiquette since 1922. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, famous for being the voice on proper manners back in the day.

MARTÍNEZ: All right. So what are some of the text etiquette rules or textiquette rules, if you will?

POST: One of the big, overarching points that we often tell people is to not send negatively surprising news, like a relative had died.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I DO THIS ALL THE TIME")

SELF ESTEEM: Prioritize pleasure. Don't send those long paragraph texts. Stop it. Don't.

INSKEEP: Post warns about a long paragraph text and also about sending multiple text messages in a row.

POST: Where you send the list of thoughts in, like, six, seven, eight different individual text messages because you've now just pinged that person's phone six, seven, eight times. I mean, you're blowing up their phone.

(SOUNDBITE OF CELLPHONES RINGING)

MARTÍNEZ: Another text etiquette tip, always be mindful about how soon you get back to someone.

POST: I think, right now, a lot of people are taking a really long time to respond. It's OK to nudge someone again if you want to. I personally stop nudging after a few nudges.

INSKEEP: And be aware of text anxiety. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist.

ELLEN HENDRIKSEN: Anxiety makes us jump to the worst-case scenario. So when we see the dot, dot, dot, and then it disappears, most likely someone with social anxiety will think, they don't want to talk to me or I said something wrong.

(SOUNDBITE OF CELLPHONE TEXTING)

MARTÍNEZ: And then what about what Steve Inskeep constantly texts me 24/7, all those emojis?

INSKEEP: (Laughter) Here's Hendriksen.

HENDRIKSEN: The meaning of emojis seems to shift under our feet. I know the thumbs up symbol for older people means just that, means affirmative, but for younger people can be passive aggressive or sarcastic.

INSKEEP: I'm kind of thumbs-downing all emojis, in reality. But here's one last rule from Lizzie Post.

POST: If you're angry about something, that's a really good time to not use your thumbs, take a deep breath and try to find the time to have a conversation with someone. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.