In a Study, Text Messages Add Up to a Balance Sheet of Everyday Morality

By Benedict Carey
The New York Times
Originally posted September 11, 2014

Committing a small act of kindness, like holding the door for a harried stranger, often prompts the recipient to extend a hand to others, but it comes at a cost, psychologists have long argued. People who have done the good deed are primed to commit a rude one later on, as if drawing on moral credit from their previous act.

Now, in a novel survey of everyday moral behavior, researchers have tested whether that theory holds up in real life. It does, though the effects appear small.

The findings come from a survey of everyday morality in which researchers tracked people’s moral judgments and attitudes at regular intervals throughout a typical day, using text messages.

The entire article is here.

Lady Gaga's foundation supports youth mental health discussions - all by text messaging

By Will Schutt
Medill Reports
Originally posted April 24, 2014

Texting offers new way to get youth engaged in mental health discussions. Creating Community Solutions and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation are sponsoring a texting conversation about mental health. All you need to chime in is a cell phone. The latest digital mental health discussion for and between young people kicks off today.

An emerging mental health “conference” offers a new kind of group rapport: a conversation entirely conducted by texting.

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Occasionally, people text in who are in crisis. To make sure they get immediate assistance, one of the first texts people receive is the number for the national hotline for mental health crises.

The entire article is here.

“HIPAA-COMPLIANT” Texting of PHI: The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

By Alaap Shah and Ali Lakhani
TechHealth Perspectives
Originally published October 14, 2013

Here is an excerpt:

Currently, there is a great deal of uncertainty around whether “HIPAA-compliant” texting of ePHI can be accomplished.  Even greater confusion exists around whether certain texting platforms themselves can be “HIPAA-compliant”.  Before you start to send ePHI via text message, there are a number of issues to consider.

The entire article is here.