{
  "id": 13404527,
  "title": "Even Good Friends Can Be Bad Texters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/even-good-friends-can-be-bad-texters",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-10T12:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/10/good-friends-bad-texters/688957/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent Atlantic essay, writer Julie Beck encourages readers to forgive those who are sometimes bad at texting. Beck herself admits to leaving messages unanswered for days or even weeks at a time, not due to a lack of caring, but because she often gets distracted, feels burned-out, or simply forgets. Despite this, a delayed reply can be misconstrued as indifference in a culture that expects constant connectivity. While texting has made staying in touch more effortless, it has also transformed communication into an almost constant obligation. According to Beck, a third of Americans feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of texts they need to respond to. The pressure to respond promptly has grown exponentially with technology, amplifying both societal expectations and the anxiety that accompanies meeting them. Beck argues that being a good texter does not equate to being a good friend. Someone who takes days to reply may still be the first one to show up when you truly need them. Therefore, the next time a friend leaves you on read, it may be beneficial to extend them the benefit of the doubt. If you find yourself with an increasing number of unanswered messages, consider granting yourself some leniency as well.",
  "summary": "The time someone takes to reply may say little about your relationship.",
  "key_points": [
    "Writer Julie Beck forgives bad texters, not due to lack of caring.",
    "33% of Americans feel overwhelmed by text volume.",
    "Good texter ≠ good friend; prompt replies not equal to being there when needed."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}