1) Today's students have grown up in a world of rapid communication through technology like smartphones and social media. 2) The preferred means of communication for college students is texting and social media like Facebook, while email is less commonly used. 3) Most parents and students commonly use texting and Facebook to stay in touch, but students prefer more independence and privacy as they transition to college. Parents should respect boundaries and find balanced ways to connect without overbearing monitoring of their activities online or at school.