Can texting replace phone calls?

It might be worth posing the question why.

Most mobile phone deals now contain generous sometimes unlimited call allowances but I often hear older people saying they don't like using their mobiles for calls as "it's expensive".

Another reason may be that she is not hearing that well any more and doesn't want to admit it.

I am sorry, but I agree with your sister-in-law. I frequently text my s-i-l, with just small insignificant messages, I do not want to get into long drawn-out conversations on the subject, she inevitably calls back and we end up talking for ages. I have a feeling that some people have lost the knack of readi ng a writing.

I am the only person that my sons (in their forties) actually speak to on the phone. They just use texts among their contemporaries. I insist I like to hear a voice.

No one ever rings my mobile unless it's in error or PPI calls! There are times when I wish they would just ring me as I find it very time consuming texting/messaging like ping pong. A quick call might take less time

Can texting replace phone calls? I do hope not.
We're about to move into another house and husband suggests we could manage without a landline .
But evidently many people are doing that now.

Before we had phones, people used the written word. Texts are little notes. I love them. ?

I've just been speaking to my sister. The call lasted 1 hr 9 mins. I couldn't have told her everything using text messaging.
I only send text messages if I want to follow something up, or send photos. I sometimes send DH a message if I need anything from town.
So no to the question posed in the OP.

I do both, if I want to talk then I ring them, but I'm always conscious of the time.
Bedtime, teatime etc.
If I text I feel I am not interrupting.
I find texts from friends and family useful if appointments, dates or otheimportant information is involved

I text a lot, as a way of keeping in contact with my adult sons who work full-time and have a busy social life. Neither of them has landline 'phones. I probably actually speak to them fortnightly, though.

I prefer to speak to people instead of texting if possible - that way, much more can be said, and it's a proper conversation. Text messages can be misconstrued.

for visual and kinetic dominent people phone calls can be very difficult.

Some people can communicate with no visual cues but a lot of people can't, and there is no point forcing them to as the conversation won't flow.

there are of course people who find phone calls easier to focus on with no visual distractions.

You can't force a square peg into a round hole. Phone call haters won't be any good at it if forced to do it out of politeness.

can texting replace phone calls
They already have. When did you last see one of your gc make a phone call. My daughter likes me to call them so they don't loose the 'skill' of having a conversation on the phone.
I last had a landline in 2004, just no need.

I love texting have no problem with it and yes they are little bite size notes

As a family, we text an enormous amount through WhatsApp. My wife and myself have three grown-up daughters with families of their own and texting to keep the whole family instantly aware of what is going on is indispensable to us and them these days.

It can also be very entertaining on occasions such as a few weeks back when the Eurovision Song contest was on the television. The whole family was linked in our group on WhatsApp including the grandchildren with their phones. The comments between everybody in regard to the songs and acts was absolutely hilarious and provided a great evening of entertainment.

With the World Cup about to start and almost everybody in the family being a football fan when it comes to England and the World Cup, WhatsApp will be getting a great deal of yous I have no doubt

Texting, we certainly wouldn't be without it for family communication these days.

I Whatsapp all the time with my family. It's free and instant.
Don't speak on the phone a great deal .

Apologies, should be use not yous above. Voice recognition spell checker printing it as pronounced tonight.

sodapop, I said WhatsApp it is a wonderful free service for group communication, cannot be beaten.

texting is also better for making arrangements as you can look back & re check details

notanan2, yes, with Google you can copy and paste it into your calendar and get alerts prior to any arrangements taking place.

Also with Amazon Alexa and Google Home speakers they will tell you at the start of each day what those appointments are. Just say good morning Alexa or good morning Google, and off they go with weather, news brief and calendar for the day.

Great.

Yes, as with others it's WhatsApp all the way here, with lots of family group chat and laughter, and exchanging photos. I love it, also quick texts to friends that keep us in touch. I do see all these people regularly though. If I pick up a phone these days it's to ring my lovely sister who I don't see often enough (an hour and a half of chat at least) or one of the children if their partners are away and I know they'll appreciate a long call. Before texting we used to use email for group "chat" rather than the phone, copying each other in.

But do you think that all this texting and what'sapping is changing the way we make social relationships? For the better?
If we go on like this we might lose the power of speech?

considering that most whatsapp groups I'm in are about arranging meet-ups etc, no.

I believe that when a group is formed on WhatsApp it does increase communication ability between the persons in the group. A group formed on that platform is normally people that are personally known to each other such as family or friends.

With people living busy lives personally meeting/visiting can be can be difficult to arrange and therefore infrequent. However, in forming a WhatsApp group the foregoing can easily be overcome and frequent chats and a get together online can be entertaining and full of news updates.

WhatsApp is far different from Facebook or Twitter I find due to the group's personally knowing one another and therefore making a far different online atmosphere.

That stated, I am not a user of Twitter or Facebook these days, but a member of three WhatsApp groups being, family, a group of longtime friends, and a group my wife and I go walking with

WhatsApp enables us all to keep in touch easily and frequently

I'm with your sister on this. My sister and I speak once a week, or should I say that she speaks and I sit and listen......always for at least an hour. Sometimes two hours. It has always been like this - I always end up with sore ears from the pressure of the phone !

If I just want to say something quickly I always text - it just isn't worth the hassle of calling her and then having to listen to her endless thoughts and opinions. A text is quick and easy, and I'm free to continue with my day.

I'm not suggesting that your sister texts for that reason, but I do still like the option of texting - it's quick it doesn't lead to a long conversation.