Suddenly, Mobile Phone Operators Are Big Supporters Of Smoking Bans...

from the smexting? dept

Thu, Aug 9th 2007 11:23pm — Mike Masnick

If you suddenly start hearing stories about mobile phone operators being big supporters of bans on smoking, perhaps a new report is the reason why. Apparently, telcos in the UK are noticing a recent surge in text messaging, which they attribute to a new ban on smoking in confined spaces. The working theory is that smokers need something to do with their hands to keep them busy, and that texting is taking up that free time, now that they can't smoke. It's as good a theory as any, but it seems unlikely to have a very longterm impact.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: smoking, sms, text messaging

13 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

The Swiss Cheese Monster, 9 Aug 2007 @ 11:54pm

Whatever they can do to make a buck!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Julian Bond, 10 Aug 2007 @ 12:18am

Or is it?
What I'm seeing in London is large numbers of people standing around outside offices, pubs and clubs with a cigarette in one hand and a mobile in the other. I don't think it's texting as a displacement activity. I think it's multi-tasking and keeping working while having a smoke break.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2007 @ 5:51am
  
  Re: Or is it?
  i think its more that in a group of people, maybe one or two are smokers. therefore, when they gotta go out and smoke, the whole group doesn't go with them. they need something to occupy their time while waiting to finish the cigarette, so they'll text people.
  
  It's a matter of the ban causing them to break away from the social activity to smoke and text messaging allows them to keep some sort of social connection.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2007 @ 4:59am

I agree with Julian Bond's comment, though I think it's just boredom most of the time
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dewey, 10 Aug 2007 @ 5:55am

Interesting, but....
I always thought smoking was an oral fixation, at least that's what Freud had said. Does this mean I can stop chasing women that smoke?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Frogpond, 10 Aug 2007 @ 5:55am

Bass Akwards Again
In my place of employment we are not allowed to smoke or text. Seems that the boss-man wants us to use our hands for work. What a beast!
If the increase in texting is related to the smoking ban at all, it is most likely due to the fact that employers are allowing workers to step outside for a quick smoke. Texting while smoking allows them to annoy more people at the same time. The reason they text is that most of us can't take the time to answer their voice calls because, guess what, we're working.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2007 @ 6:16am

Fuck you bassakwards. I'll go out for a cigarette if I want to. Don't tell me you are better than I am because you're working while I'm taking a smoke break, because I'll be working while you're taking a shit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Unknowledgeable Geek, 10 Aug 2007 @ 6:43am
  
  Re:
  Yeah, but if you are smoking, odds are you are going to shit more often than myself, who is not smoking. All though I shit and smoke all day long.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Krum, 10 Aug 2007 @ 6:57am
    
    Re: Re:
    It's my day off so I get to shit and smoke all day at the same time....and text. Since I've unlimited sms, I don't think it makes a difference to my carrier.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Frogpond, 10 Aug 2007 @ 7:29am
  
  Re:
  Calm down AC. Didn't mean anything personal. Some of my best friends were smokers. They didn't text 'cause they died before all that came around.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Evan, 10 Aug 2007 @ 7:30am

It's Now Proven...
hell, they accumulated 2 whole weeks worth of data. the 'theory of smexting' can now be called 'the absolutely, positively, true scientific fact of smexting.' weak hypothesis. stupid limeys...

besides, try living here in los angeles where you can't even smoke in a bar. i wish my second-hand smoke would kill all these jag-offs...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2007 @ 8:05am
  
  Re: It's Now Proven...
  smexting?
  
  Oh great a new buzzword...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
MissingFrame, 10 Aug 2007 @ 9:49am

Happens to me
Any time I get a SMS from a smoker it's usually a 99% chance they are on a smoke break. For non-smokers it's while they're on the toilet, so I think these guys should push high-fiber diets as well.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]