Survey says cell phones increasing communication in families

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A new survey suggests cell phone use and texting are increasing communication within families, but there are downsides too.

Kelsi Manwaring moved away from home this summer and loves texting with her dad. She said, "He texts me every day, and he'll just send me, like, random, little, cute messages."

But others, like Shawn Mann, aren't so sure of the benefit. "It definitely increases the amount that we communicate with each other, but maybe not the quality of it."

Doug Goldsmith, at the Children's Center, said, "I think we're seeing an erosion of language, an erosion of relationship skills." He says there are concerns. The Pew Internet and American Life Project finds 42 percent of parents communicate daily with their kids via cell phones. E-mail: aadams@ksl.com