Texting Abbreviations Could Be Turning People Off, Study Finds

Rabat – Are your texts full of abbreviations? New research says it might not be the best way to connect. Messages filled with shortcuts come across as less sincere, and might even get fewer replies, says a study published by the American Psychological Association.

Psychologists studied over 5,000 people across eight experiments. They found that people who used abbreviations were seen as putting in less effort. And that made them seem less genuine. As a result, they got fewer and shorter responses.

Abbreviations like “ily” or “idrc” are common in today’s fast-paced digital world. They’re quick and efficient, but they might also send the wrong message. Researchers say spelling things out like “I love you” instead of “ily” can make your words feel more thoughtful and heart-felt.

“Abbreviations save time, but they may hurt communication by making senders seem less sincere,” said lead researcher David Fang, BCom in the study. Fang is a doctoral student in behavioral marketing at Stanford University.

The researchers analyzed messages from apps like Discord, online speed-dating chats, and Tinder conversations. Across the board, texters who avoided abbreviations got better responses. Even younger people who use abbreviations the most weren’t fans of receiving them.

In one experiment, people who got abbreviation-heavy texts responded with shorter messages. This created a loop where conversations became less meaningful over time.

Fang says it’s all about the situation. “If you’re texting a delivery driver, it’s fine to be quick. But when building relationships or making a good impression, spelling things out can help.”

“In daily interactions, we often encounter people who could be considered good texters or poor texters,” said Fang. “We thought texters might like abbreviations because it would convey an informal sense of closeness, so we were surprised that abbreviations elicited negative perceptions about people who use them.”

In a preliminary survey by the researchers, 99% of respondents reported they used texting abbreviations, and 84% of them didn’t believe that others wouldn’t like abbreviations.

The experiments included an analysis of replies to Discord group chat users, dating scenarios, and Tinder dating app users’ conversation histories spanning 37 countries. Other experiments included participants who rated their texting conversations with people who either were or weren’t using abbreviations.

In the experiments, texters who used abbreviations received shorter and fewer responses and were less likely to receive contact information from the other texter. While young people tend to use more texting abbreviations, they still weren’t fans of them, although the findings were inconsistent in some of the studies, Fang said.

“While our overall results on age were mixed, it’s clear that younger people are not particularly fond of abbreviations, though the strength of this aversion may vary by age,” Fang said.

Texting abbreviations could contribute to loneliness if people find that social bonds weaken over time because they receive less frequent or positive replies to their texts. But he doesn’t believe people should stop using abbreviations altogether.

“We often tailor the effort we put into conversations to match the significance of the relationship. In some cases, it makes sense to invest less effort and accept being perceived as less sincere, like quickly texting with a delivery driver,” the researcher added. “However, our findings are especially relevant when we want to appear more sincere and strengthen social ties, such as at the beginning of a relationship or when we need to make a good impression.”

Abbreviations might seem casual and friendly, but they can also signal a lack of effort. Over time, that might weaken social connections, the researchers warn. If you want your messages to feel thoughtful and genuine, it might be worth ditching the shortcuts.

So, the next time you’re tempted to text “hbu?”, consider going the extra mile with “How about you?” It could make all the difference.