Texting is a popular way of communicating, but a lot of teens use it as their only means of communication with friends and family.
13-year old Erik Anderson thinks texting is easier than talking on the phone, and doctors say that's the problem.
"It does get awkward. You take awkward pauses. You don't know what to talk about,” said Anderson about phone communication. “When you're texting you have time to think about what to talk about, so it's less awkward."
"What it can do is reduce the skills that they otherwise need to develop, or interpersonal face-to-face to be able to say difficult things, to build relationships,” said Dr. Robert Trestman, psychiatrist.
Doctors say hanging out and talking help teens build skills that reduce social anxiety, but some parents disagree. They say their teens have a larger circle of friends -- because of texting.
