Teenagers Are More Comfortable Texting than Phoning In Times of Crisis

Crisis Text Line based in New York got together with a number of crisis centers across US and in August launched a hotline texting service for teenagers and young adults to help them through crisis. It has been found that the youth today prefer texting to talking. The anonymity of texting helps them open up and appeal for help. The hotline’s founder Nancy Lublin hopes that one day the service will be as large as 911. When someone texts Crisis Text Line the call is routed to the 50 counselors based in Boston, Miami and Seattle who guide the youth through a chat based system, telling them how to deal with the situation. Texting is being used by most crisis management and help centers across the country since texting is private and discreet and there is no chance of being overheard, and teens today are more comfortable using technology.