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The Internet & WebMobile Messaging

Why Texts Were 160 Characters

An engineer counted the letters on postcards

For decades, a text message ended at character 160. Not 150, not 200. Who decided that your thoughts fit in exactly that much room?

You'll find out

  • Who picked the number, and how
  • Where a text hides inside the network
  • What happens at character 161

Why it matters

Limits that look arbitrary usually have a story. This one was a typewriter, a stack of postcards and some spare room.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 121 · Zone 14

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