During boring classes, texting is the new doodling

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — Students used to fight classroom boredom by doodling, daydreaming and passing notes. Now they whip out their phones and send text messages.

Two psychology professors at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania have completed a study of in-class texting. They found that nine in 10 students there admit to sending text messages during class.

Wilkes senior Tom Markley says he’s constantly trading texts with his friends and girlfriend during class. He says “texting is a nice alternative to having to sit there and focus” during a boring class.

The phenomenon is part of a broader revolution in the way young adults communicate. Wilkes professor Deborah Tindell says most prefer texting to e-mail and talking on the phone.