Katie Couric's Notebook: Texting Vs. Talking

A study by Nielsen found we talked on cell phones 188 minutes a month on average this year. But that's down  25 percent from 2007. It's mostly because of the explosion in texting - especially among teens. The average teenager now sends and receives an unbelievable 3,300  texts a month - more than a hundred every day! Many see the old fashioned phone call as an intrusion - something for emergencies only.

These mini-messages are efficient. We can get our point across quickly and not waste time with small talk.

But, what's wrong with a little small talk now and then? Talking on the phone instead of texting helps build communication skills, and can convey nuance and real emotion...not just emoticons.

Some messages simply can't be delivered...in 140 characters or less.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.