HIDALGO COUNTY -- Mariangela Serazzi said it’s hard to imagine her life without text messaging.
“During the day, I think I send I send about 30 text messages a day,” the 24-year-old college student said.
It’s hard to believe people have been but text messaging has been around for 16 years.
Action 4 News asked Serazzi if she realized it had been that long.
“Actually, it seems like just yesterday we were text messaging, right now it's easier to do that…everybody text messages," she said.
An estimated 82 million people send text messages. One of the advantages of sending a text message over making a phone call is time saved, especially when you're writing in text message shorthand.
Most everyone knows that “LOL” means laugh out loud, but if you ever need help with an acronym you don't recognize there are websites on-line to consult.
Texting can be fun, but it could also get you in trouble.
“The most prevalent crime by texting is harassment,” said Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra.
He said prosecutors can go back 6 months to a year and subpoena messages to use as evidence in domestic violence or retaliation cases.
And by the way, just in case you're wondering the District Attorney is personally not a fan of text messaging.
"No, it's very disruptive for me," Guerra said. "A lot of people want to text message me and I'm the slowest typist in the world."
For Serazzi, speed is not the issue, it's replying to everyone's message that creating a burden.
As text messaging turns 16, state lawmakers are considering laws to make using cell phones or text messaging illegal while driving.
Texas Senate Bill 51 would prohibit bus drivers from using cell phones while working and also outlaw all motorists from reading, writing or sending text messages while driving.
State Rep. Veronica Gonazales (D-McAllen) said she is waiting to hear further debate in legislature but likely would support the bill when introduced to the house.
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