OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH TEXTING

The continuing trend of the mobile phone text messaging (“texting”) phenomenon presents yet another set of new challenges in the understanding of interpersonal communication and relationships, both virtual and real. This study has conducted a novel systematic examination for validating the conflicting perspectives of the technology’s implications to mobile romance. This research has also proposed a framework for theorizing the occurrence of relationships through and within mediated communications based on three main factors: (1) the characteristics of the participants and the nature of their romantic relationships, (2) the level of intimacy that is achieved through the mediated communication, and (3) the distinct contribution of the technology to the formation of these relationships. The study’s primary finding is that romantic relationships initiated and maintained through the unique attributes of the texting function is indeed possible and capable of developing into higher levels of intimacy. Data analysis indicated that the typical individual who engaged in romantic relationships through texting is 23 years old, more likely female than male, and single. Texters actually initiated their relationships through the search of a textmate that could later provide for a potential romantic partner. Data analysi