AUSTRALIANS are battling a new wave of technology stress as the rise of social networking apps like Facebook and Snapchat have us confused about the etiquette of mobile messaging.

The research conducted by mobile phone service provider Amaysim finds nearly half of young adults are stressed by working out the right time to send a text, an instant message, a quirky photo or go old school and make a phone call.

While older people are often derided for recalling “the good old days”, the research found that it is 39 per cent of adults aged 18-24 who juggle their communications across a range of messaging apps and are yearning for a simpler time when you just called someone or sent a text.

A factor adding to the stress of mobile messaging is knowing the sender is aware that you have read their message, that you have been online and ignored their message, or that you started to compose a response and then stopped.

The research identified a gender split in the way we match our choice of messaging tool to the identity of the recipient, with women more selective than men in matching a communication tool to their relationship with a person.

Amaysim head of communication Ged Mansour said people were trying to navigate the unwritten rules of modern etiquette and stressing out about how best to connect with work colleagues, friends and relatives.

“Messaging has become simpler. It’s easier and quicker to get to people and because you don’t have to call people, it’s definitely less intrusive some times,” he said.

But he said the ease, convenience and casualness of a message has people confused about whether it was always appropriate. Just because you can send your boss a text message after hours with a smiley poo emoji that does not mean you should.

The research looked at the way 18-24-year-old Australians communicated and found 88 per cent use Facebook Messenger, 87 per cent use SMS, 50 per cent use Snapchat and 27 per cent use WhatsApp.

And with so many tools at hand, three quarters of young Australian adults reserve specific communication methods for different people. More than half say they use their mobile to call their parents, but prefer social media and text with their friends. When they reach out to a casual acquaintance, they are more likely to contact them through Facebook Messenger.

Mr Mansour said the research showed that young adults are “cutting the cord” with 70 per cent of them not using a home landline.

He said the stress from juggling multiple messaging systems was less of a problem with people aged 55 and older.

“From their point of view, it’s more important what they’re saying or what they’re communicating to people rather than how they’re communicating,” he said.

“They’re managing the communication or that technology rather the technology managing them.”

The research also confirmed the obvious: 80 per cent of Australians send text messages but only 5 per cent use public payphones.

Amaysim has launched a social media campaign that offers tips on mobile messaging etiquette.