What are the rules of text messages?
Asked by: Prof. Blaze Windler | Last update: February 1, 2026Score: 5/5 (56 votes)
Texting rules emphasize clarity, brevity, and respect for the recipient's time, meaning you should get straight to the point with simple language, avoid sensitive topics or urgent matters (call instead), proofread for auto-correct errors, and be mindful of when you text (avoid late nights or important events like movies). Always introduce yourself in new conversations and respect privacy, never sharing personal info without consent.
What are the rules for texting?
Texting Guidelines
- Don't text to inform someone of sad news or to end a relationship. ...
- Be aware—not everyone has unlimited texting as part of their service plan.
- Keep your message brief. ...
- Be careful when choosing a recipient from your phone book; a slip of the finger could send the text to a wrong recipient.
What is the difference between a text message and a SMS message?
There's no real difference; SMS (Short Message Service) is a type of text message, but the term "texting" often broadly includes modern messaging apps like iMessage or WhatsApp that use data, whereas true SMS relies on cellular networks for simple, text-only messages (up to 160 characters), making SMS highly reliable across devices and networks, even without internet. Think of SMS as the foundational cellular texting, while "texting" is the general activity that now covers SMS, MMS (multimedia texts), and app-based chats.
What are red flags in texting?
Texting red flags include imbalance (you always initiate), poor communication (one-word replies, never asking questions), lack of emotional depth (hollow texts, avoiding feelings), controlling behavior (anger at boundaries, demanding info), inconsistency, and ignoring your needs, showing disrespect for your time, boundaries, or feelings. These signs suggest potential issues like emotional unavailability, insecurity, manipulation, or simple disinterest.
What is the 3 day rule in texting?
The "3 day rule" in texting is a dating guideline suggesting you wait three days after getting a number or first date to initiate contact, aiming to appear less needy and gauge the other person's interest, though many modern daters find it outdated, preferring quicker contact or even texting on the same day to build momentum, as waiting too long risks losing connection in the fast-paced digital dating world.
The 10 Laws of Texting Women
What is considered dry texting?
Dry texting is sending minimal, one-word, or emoji-only responses that kill conversation, making the recipient feel the sender is uninterested, bored, or dismissive, characterized by short replies like "k," "lol," "yeah," or single thumbs-up emojis, and a lack of effort to ask questions or build rapport. It feels like you're carrying the entire conversation, and the replies don't encourage further discussion, often causing frustration.
What is breadcrumbing?
“Breadcrumbing is when you give an individual just enough morsels of attention to keep them interested or hooked into the relationship (or situationship), without any intention of really committing,” Dr. Albers explains. Essentially, it's a tactic used to string somebody along.
What does ggg mean in dating?
In dating, GGG stands for "Good, Giving, and Game," a concept coined by sex columnist Dan Savage for excellent sexual partners: someone who is skilled ("Good"), generous with pleasure ("Giving"), and open-minded to new experiences ("Game"), all within consensual boundaries. It's a shorthand often seen on dating profiles to signal enthusiasm for mutual pleasure and exploration in intimacy.
What is considered bad texting?
A bad texter is someone who consistently demonstrates poor communication skills via text, such as taking excessive time to respond, sending brief or disengaged replies, or habitually ignoring messages without explanation. What is this?
What does 🚩 mean in text?
The Red Flag emoji 🚩, officially known as Triangular Flag, depicts a triangular red flag on a pole. Because a triangular red flag is often used to signal danger, this emoji is commonly used to refer to dangerous situations or to warn people of bad ideas or potential problems.
What does RCS mean in texting?
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the modern upgrade to SMS/MMS, bringing features like typing indicators, read receipts, high-resolution photos/videos, and better group chats to your phone's default messaging app, using data/Wi-Fi instead of just cellular networks, and making texts feel more like modern chat apps like WhatsApp but natively. It's an industry standard adopted by both Android (especially with Google Messages) and now Apple for better cross-platform communication, though security aspects like end-to-end encryption can vary.
What are the disadvantages of SMS?
Making the most of SMS
It is a reliable option for reaching people without relying on internet access, and it works across all phone types. However, it also comes with limitations, such as message length, a lack of media support, and higher costs in some cases.
What does MMS mean in texting?
In text messaging, MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service, an enhancement to standard SMS that lets you send pictures, videos, audio, GIFs, and longer text messages (up to 1600 characters). It's different from SMS because it uses cellular data to send these rich media files and appears in green bubbles on iPhones when not using iMessage, requiring a data connection to work.
What is considered rude when texting?
If someone texts you, try to respond, even if it's just a quick “Got it!” or an emoji. Ignoring messages can seem rude. If you're busy, you can send a short reply to let the person know you'll get back to them later. And if you don't get an answer right away, don't send multiple texts demanding a response—be patient!
What is the 5 5 5 rule in relationships?
The 5-5-5 method is simple, according to Clarke. When a disagreement comes up, each partner will take 5 minutes to speak while the other simply listens, and then they use the final five minutes to talk it through.
What is the new texting standard?
RCS is a type of mobile messaging, but it's more interactive, engaging, and secure than SMS. Watch the full video for everything you need to know about this “next generation” of text messaging.
What is illegal in texting?
Key Takeaways. Sending unsolicited text messages to consumers is illegal and can result in significant fines. Businesses must obtain appropriate levels of consent from consumers before sending marketing text messages.
What is the 3 day rule for texting?
The "3 day rule" in texting is a dating guideline suggesting you wait three days after getting a number or first date to initiate contact, aiming to appear less needy and gauge the other person's interest, though many modern daters find it outdated, preferring quicker contact or even texting on the same day to build momentum, as waiting too long risks losing connection in the fast-paced digital dating world.
What is the most emotionally triggering text message?
A study has confirmed what we knew all along: the most emotionally triggering text message that you can send someone is “K”.
What does SWT mean in dating?
In dating apps, SWT usually stands for "Sex Without Troubles," meaning someone is looking for a casual, no-drama sexual encounter without commitment or emotional complications, similar to NSA (No Strings Attached). It signals they want a fun, easy physical connection rather than a serious relationship or anything that might become complicated.
What does 🦄 mean on Tinder?
On Tinder and other dating apps, the unicorn emoji (🦄) signifies a person, usually a bisexual woman, who is open to joining an existing couple, often for a casual or experimental threesome, but sometimes for something more serious; it highlights their rarity (like a mythical unicorn) and availability for this specific dynamic, with the couple (the "unicorn hunters") seeking a third partner to join their relationship. It's shorthand for "I am this person" or "we are looking for this person," signaling interest in ethical non-monogamy or swinging.
What is DDF on dating sites?
DDF is an acronym, used on dating websites or personal ads, that stands for drug disease free or drug and disease free.
What is paperclipping and breadcrumbing?
Breadcrumbing involves giving just enough attention to keep someone interested, without any real commitment. It's more about ongoing, low-effort engagement, whereas paperclipping is about sporadic, ambiguous reminders of presence.
What is the meaning of bread coming?
Breadcrumbing is an antisocial dating behavior, similar to ghosting. It is referred to by this name because it involves giving a romantic interest a trail of "breadcrumbs", small bits of intermittent communication, to keep them interested without committing to a serious relationship.
What are games in dating?
"Game" in dating refers to using strategic or psychological tactics to create attraction and achieve a desired outcome, often involving a mix of manipulation (like playing hard to get) and genuine charisma (like confident communication). It's about building desire and navigating the social dance, sometimes involving "mind games" like delayed texts or creating scarcity to keep someone interested, while other times it's simply being socially adept, confident, and fun to be around.