JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<table class="form_table">
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-weight:bold;">Letter Count:</td>
<td id="myLetterCount">(0 characters)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>

<td><textarea cols="50" rows="4" name="form_message"></textarea></td>

</tr>
</table>

JavaScript

var charcontent;
$('textarea').on('keyup', function(){
    var letters = $(this).val().length;
    $('#myLetterCount').text(0+letters+' characters ');
});