Teens love to text, but on Valentine's Day would rather express emotions out loud

Love can be expressed in many ways. Some people expect flowers or an invitation for dinner. For others, it is enough to get a nice text message.

According to AT&T, 457 billion text messages were sent last year in its network. The company conducted a survey in 2009 and found that 40 percent of texters plan to send five or more Valentine's Day texts. Thoughts and habits regarding romantic texting vary among some local high school students.

"I like texting, but I prefer face-to-face communication," said Brianna Ziegler, a junior at Notre Dame Regional High School.

Her classmates Genny Bradshaw and Courtney Davis, both 17, agreed.

"If they can't say it to your face, then it's not from the heart," Bradshaw said.

Davis said it takes less than a minute sometimes to write a message, which is not as meaningful to her as talking.

But it's not just high school girls who think texting is something that should not be done on Valentine's Day. Teenage boys also said the lovey holiday deserves more than a message. Nathan Beussink, 15, said he did not send a text message to the girl he took on a date last Valentine's Day.

"I took her out to eat," the Notre Dame sophomore said. "I'd also rather call a girl than send her a text message."

The AT&T survey found that 48 percent of texters feel that receiving a Valentine's text would mean the same or more than receiving a card. Locally, there are high school students who think that texting is appropriate in every situation, including Valentine's Day.

According to the survey, 61 percent of texters plan to send a text to someone they are currently in a relationship with.

Veronica Moore, a freshman at Notre Dame, said she texts a lot.

"I text around 1,000 messages a day," the 15-year-old said.

She said she and her boyfriend text all the time.

"Because we both play sports, phone calls are harder if you are busy," she said.

She added that all her friends like texting a lot, including on Valentine's Day.