June 1, 2026
Happy National Texting Day!
National Texting Day highlights how texting, which began with a simple message in 1992, has grown into a fast, essential communication tool used worldwide by individuals, businesses, and governments.
National Texting Day
National Texting Day, observed on June 1, celebrates one of the most widely used forms of communication in the world. From the first text ever sent to the text you just sent your mom; texting has been changing the way people connect by making communication unbelievably fast and convenient.
The history of text messaging began on December 3, 1992, when engineer Neil Papworth sent the first text ever. The message simply read, "Merry Christmas." This first text sent marked the beginning of a communication revolution. As mobile phones became more popular throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, texting evolved from a simple feature into a daily habit for millions of people.
The history of the text message highlights the rapid growth of mobile technology. What started as a 160-character SMS message became the default way to share information and stay connected. Today, billions of text messages are exchanged every day around the globe.
Texting has become an important tool for organizations as well as individuals. Government agencies, businesses, and service providers use text messaging to deliver updates and reminders directly to the people they serve. It's built into workflows, relied on for relaying safety information, creates a unified community, and even saves lives.
TextMyGov is a great example of how texting continues to improve communication. The platform helps local governments connect with residents through text messages, making it easier to receive information and stay informed about community services. Whether sharing public notices or payment reminders, TextMyGov uses the power of texting to strengthen communication between governments and citizens.
As we celebrate National Texting Day, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the history of text messaging and how much your life has changed since your first text.
10 Fun Facts About Texting
1. Globally, 7.26 billion people own a cellphone.
2. Sixty-one percent of all people on earth own a smartphone.
3. An average of 18.7 billion texts are sent every day.
4. A single text has a limit of 160 characters. This number was first determined by Friedhel Hillebrand, a German engineer, who decided 160 characters was the perfect length for a standard text by typing answers to questions on a typewriter.
5. Though illegal, 23.6% of Americans admit to texting while driving.
6. Americans get a total of 16.9 spam texts every month.
7. In some medical cases, the only indication of a stroke occurring in a patient was “dystexia” or nonsensical texting during the event.
8. Text messaging has a 98% open rate.
9. The average response time for a text is 90 seconds.
10. Forty-eight percent of people prefer text message appointment reminders to phone call and email reminders.
Fact Sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/internet-technology/platforms-services/mobile/texting/
https://messente.com/blog/facts-about-texting
https://www.bankmycell.com/blog/how-many-phones-are-in-the-world
Meet the Author
Emma Conway is a Marketing Communications Manager with TextMyGov. She is a graduate of the University of Utah and has been writing for TextMyGov since 2024. Emma loves hiking and birdwatching in the nearby mountains.
