Think texting is a waste of time? Not according to 250,000 individuals who entered the LG U.S. National Texting Championship. Based on speed and accuracy as well as response time, the competitors type it out for a chance to win $50,000 US.
Teens and cell phones go hand in hand, with
research showing that nearly 85 per cent of teenagers own a cell phone. In today's world, the method of communication used most often amongst this group? Texting.
With the age group's high rate of use, it comes as no surprise that the winner of the
LG U.S. National Texting Championship would be a teenager.
On Tuesday, the
finals of the championship were held in New York City after a massive entry of around a quarter of a million texters. Those numbers dwindled down to about 22 semi-finalists and then only 6 made it on to the final round.
The winner? 15-year-old Kate Moore of Des Moines, Iowa.
The intensive texting finals competition included blindfold texting as well as obstacle course texting without mistakes in abbreviations, punctuations and capitalization. In the end, Moore barely won, beating out a 14-year-old girl from Georgia due to her split second speed and accuracy.
The winning teen's 14,000 text-a-month, or around 450 a day, habit has won her the honour as well as $50,000 US. In response to her win, Ms. Moore:
"dismisses the idea that she focuses too much on virtual communications, saying that while she has sometimes had her phone taken away from her in school, she keeps good grades, performs in school plays and socializes with friends — in person — on the weekends."
Last year's winner, 20-year-old Nathan Schwartz of Ohio failed to claim back his title. It seems that teen girls really do have the niche in yapping it up.
