Thumb tribe
The Thumb tribe (or sometimes thumb generation) is the younger generation with members who are more adept at texting using their thumbs than talking on the phone. In 2002, a trend was identified among young people who used mobile phones for many activities, such as texting, email, entertainment, and conversations, as opposed to using keyboards with traditional desktop computers. This marked a shift in the favorite digit such that activities typically done by the forefinger, such as pointing at things or ringing doorbells, were now being done with the thumb. The term thumb tribe has been used by marketers to identify younger consumers and in politics to identify persons who are not part of the younger generation, such as American politician Mitt Romney, who in 2010 was said to have owned a mobile phone but not been able to use it dexterously. Researchers reported in 2002 that this had led to the thumb being physically stronger and more flexible for many young people.