[whenlambo]

Why not just use text messages?

[danbolt]

I think this prevents them from having to look at their phones, and the expressiveness mirrors speaking since text-to-speech is so immediate.

[habitue]

Yeah, at that point, you have your phone out and airpods in your ears.

This is just texting with more steps

[lkbm]

I suspect they can text without looking at their phones -- I know kids could with physical T9 keypads. Having your phone in your lap while looking forward isn't as obvious as staring at your lap is.

[forkLding]

I think its for the cool and fun factor and to hear google text-to-speech voice talking to you. It must feel cool one way or another, its usually how kids and teenagers spread things.

[eindiran]

A big reason is that parents read kids' text messages. If there is no text message sent, there is nothing for your parents to find.

[weare138]

I think it's also because of the teachers. This way if the teacher accuses them of texting in class, the student can deny it and there's no evidence of the message.

[gowld]

There's a delete button.

[sesuximo]

back in my day we had Snapchat

[rolph]

because it is transmitted over the airpod connection so there is no manipulating the network to stop it and its crypted so no evesedropping

[burundi_coffee]

The time used to read the message can be used to pretend you are working