Majority of Individuals Engage in Controversial Discussions with Their Partners Through SMS Communication, According to a Study
In the digital age, a new term has emerged in Germany to describe the phenomenon of arguing via messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and others: "Fexting." This term, a combination of fighting and texting, sheds light on a growing trend in communication.
A recent survey conducted by the market research institute Innofact on behalf of the dating app Parship in May, polled over 3,000 adults aged 18 to 69 in Germany about resolving relationship conflicts via text message. The findings reveal some interesting insights.
Age and Fexting
The survey shows that Fexting is most common among individuals aged 18 to 39, with 84% having personal experience with it. As we move up the age brackets, the proportion of those who have experienced Fexting decreases: 67% for those aged 40 to 49, 48% for those aged 50 to 59, and 33% for those over 60.
Gender and Fexting
The survey also reveals that men (48%) have a slightly harder time than women (44%) expressing thoughts and emotions via text message. Interestingly, both men and those aged 60 to 69 (51%) are more likely to believe that emojis can lead to misunderstandings.
Emojis and Misunderstandings
Almost half (47%) of those surveyed who have had experience with Fexting believe that emojis can lead to misunderstandings. Contrastingly, 51% of those surveyed think that emojis help to avoid conflicts.
Immediate Response and Stress
Of those who have argued via text message, 63% agree that arguments come up faster via text messages than in a personal conversation. Furthermore, 56% of individuals who have argued via text message find it disturbing if their partner reads a message but doesn't respond immediately.
The implications and trends of fexting across different age groups in Germany are part of a broader phenomenon related to the widespread use of texting as a communication medium. While specific Germany-focused studies on fexting by age group were not found, general insights into texting behavior provide useful context.
As we delve deeper into this topic, it becomes apparent that understanding fexting and its effects on different age groups requires targeted sociological or psychological studies in Germany. Such studies would detail fexting frequency, conflict severity, and coping strategies across age groups, providing valuable insights into this new communication phenomenon.
In the context of the survey, individuals aged 18 to 39 are more likely to have personal experience with fexting, while those over 60 are least likely. (Age and Fexting)
The study also indicates that both men and the elderly (aged 60 to 69) perceive emojis as potentially leading to misunderstandings. (Gender and Fexting, Emojis and Misunderstandings)
