Text messaging has become a major trend for communication without face-to-face interaction. Although one may believe texting is safe and secure, some information should never be sent through text messages.

Millions of people are victims of identity theft every year. Mobile phone companies,  such as Sprint and AT&T, keep track of texts but then clear them from their systems after a couple of days. Personal information such as social security or bank account numbers or passwords should never be sent in text messages.

According to the U.S. Security Administration, con artists steal people’s identities by posing as financial institutions to get information from people through e-mail, mail, telephone class or text.

Rants should never be sent through text messages. When one vents about someone through text message to a friend or coworker, the information can be used again in the future. Friends come and go but text messages can be saved forever.

When tragic events happen, it is best not to send condolences through text messages. Although the purpose may be to show sympathy, in serious situations text messages appear to be rude and convey no emtion. A person who experienced tragedy or hardship desrves a formal heartfelt face-to-face gesture.

Text messages are a good way to communicate quickly. However, they are not as secure as people believe and in certain situations not the best form of communication.