What are some of the effects that texting is having on the teen literacy? That is the question that the researcher explores in this paper. The researcher tackles about the impacts that texting is making on teenagers, the impacts that making the teenagers’ language and writing skills nowadays.
Text messaging, or texting, is the act of typing and sending a brief, electronic message between two or more mobile phones or fixed or portable devices over a phone network according to. The term originally referred to messages sent using the Short Message Service or SMS; it has grown to include messages containing image, video, and sound content, known as MMS messages.With the revolutionary new forms of communication that technology has introduced comes a debate on what effect these new digital mediums have on literacy. In the age of text messaging, where words are reduced to nonstandard abbreviations and symbols, many people question the future of literacy especially to teenagers. There is no arguing that teenagers nowadays text more than ever. The majority of population claims that the short hand and abbreviated characteristics of text messaging are making teenagers lazy, not forcing them to use the proper grammar and spelling that teenagers learn in school. Considering the popularity of text messaging to teenagers, it is believed that this type of communication is destroying the way people read, think and write. Text messaging was even preferred by some as “The Dumbest Generation”.
One study (Hogan et al., 2012) states that cell phones are becoming a necessity this modern day, to the point where every teenager and adult must have at least one. Individuals are rapidly depending to these devices for communication purposes.
Most new technologies such as text messaging emerge on the social and academic scene. Many people are cautious and untrusting of new technologies that they worry about the riff it could cause in the talk of literacy. It is important for academics to embrace the importance of bringing daily literacies used by younger generations to engage them more critically in the talk of language and technology. (Thurlow, 2006)The objective of this study is to aware and educate the readers on the possible effects of text messaging to individual’s literacy, especially to teenagers. This study also aims to educate readers on how to control and minimize teenagers’ text messaging addiction. Through reading this study, readers will have knowledge on how text messaging affects the literacy of a teenager.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
When walking around at the mall, work, or at a college campus, every person has a cell phone out texting, playing a game, or on social media sites, instead of paying attention to the world around them. Cell phones are not just a privilege in people’s lives anymore but have become a necessity in order for people to function on a daily basis. Cell phones have many…
- 1306 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Text messaging is the central structure of communication for teennagers. While teens may think shortcuts are helpful they may not understand the damage they are doing to their writing. While older generations consider it to be degrading to the English Language, over half of teens have come to the conclusion that texting has made their writing inapplicable. Although to some teens, shortcuts and proper English can still be effective. Researchers show that text messaging has been proven to have a negative effect on society, and to the English Language.…
- 1684 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
Today in day’s people doesn’t communicate like we used to before texting were invented. As technology keeps advancing our language do too, most of the people don’t talk no more, people text instead. Back in the days we need it to wait months for letters sent over seas. Some people are happy that we don’t have to do that no more, now just using a Network can be send letters or important messages in 3 seconds. Some people are concerned that our new form of communication is destroying our language. Numerous authors had shared their points of view on the new trend of texting, some accept it, and others criticize it. As a reference John Humphrys, David Crystal and Louis Menand are some of the writers to judge the recent technology. I believe texting is a faster way to communicate, but without abbreviations, not if we’re trying to save the English language…
- 585 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In her essay “Does Texting Affect Writing?” Michaela Cullington addresses the issue of text messaging possible causing poor communication skills and the use of textspeak, abbreviations used during text messaging such as “LOL” and “g2g,” in students’ formal writing. Cullington argues that text messaging does not have an effect on students’ formal writing. She addresses the opposition directly, even citing credible sources. However, she also cites credible sources with better information to support her point, and even conducts an experiment of her own. All of these factors combine and work well together to form a well-executed argument within Cullington’s essay.…
- 938 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
What are the some of the effects that texting is having on the teen literacy? Text messaging has increased in popularity ever since the very first text message that was sent in the year of 1933 by a student who was working for the Nokia Corporation (Druoin and Davis 49). Centre of Science Education at Sheffield University discovered that more than ninety percent of the youth have cell phones and ninety-six percent of them use them to text. (Plester, Wood, Bell 137). The establishment of cell phones and texting has made a huge encounter on the way people communicate. Most people use their cell phones to text more than they do to make phone calls. Teenagers have observed that an average teenager sends a hundred textsin a day and 3,033 in s month. (Cingel and Sundar 310). Teens have the highest numbers of sent texts and the number is rapidly going up. Studies have shown that this form of communication is destroying the way people read,…
- 1483 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
In the article “Texting, the Next Epidemic” by William B. Bradford, he addresses the issue of texting in our society. He states that texting is starting to tear apart the social fabric of our country. In the article, Bradford states that the United States has fallen behind in educational standards due to the lack of reading and writing involved with texting. He portrays to his readers that texting is making our social events not so social. He says that people go to restaurants and parties for social interaction just end up on their phones not talking to each other. Furthermore, he talks about how texting is creating a generation that is socially awkward and cannot read or write important papers or documents. Proving his point on whether the next generation will be able to govern our country without being able to think, speak, or write clearly.…
- 494 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In the article “2b or not 2b”, David Crystal begins with discussing how others such as John Humphry argued that texters are “vandals who are doing to our language what Genghis Khan did to his neighbors 800 years ago. They are destroying it” (335). This is also the common belief of most people. People often argue about the bad points of technology over our language. However, Crystal believes that texting can improve children’s ability to read and write rather than hinder their literacy as many people claim. He also argues that not all texting are done in abbreviated words. Complex messages and institutional messages are often texted in standard form of orthography. In his conclusion, Crystal states that, “There is no disaster pending. We will not see a new generation of adults growing up unable to write proper English. The language as a whole will not decline” (345), which means he is generally optimistic about texting.…
- 782 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Cellular devices and other technology has grown to be extremely popular. With this popularity technology has pervaded our lives and changed social interaction. Text messaging also known as texting is when people with cell phones send short typed messages. The rate of Americans sending text messages drastically increased year by year. Teenagers are large contributors to the presence of text messaging in society. The majority of the people into the texting frenzy are usually between 13 and 17 years old. In this paper we will discuss both the pros and cons of texting.…
- 528 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Cullington points out some of the arguments that were made by those who believe that texting has detrimental affects on its writers. Some of the arguments that Cullington writes in her article are some statistics such as, “...according to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 25% of high school students are ‘proficient’ writers”(362), which implies that since teenagers are a large group of heavy texters, their writing is directly negatively affected by texting. Although there are only a small group of students who fall under the category of a proficient writer, texting is not the sole factor that contributes to the “poor skills” students are given. Some factors can be poor educational system or higher standards raised by those who create proficiency tests. Some other factors that give texting a bad reputation is the lack of punctuation included in texting. Cullington makes a statement that, “Many also complain that because texting does not stress the importance of punctuation, students neglect it in their formal writing”(363). Many people believe that since texting does not usually include punctuation due to its causal connotation, it will show in their formal writing. Through multiple experiences with friends and students, it is obvious when it is time to take the idea of texting out and begin writing a professional paper. With all the reasons why texting…
- 1016 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
As stated in the article, “2b or Not 2b” by David Crystal, some people believe that texting is not a natural form of communication and that it is wrecking our language. Although some people may agree with this idea, studies have challenged this opinion. Rather than fearing the consequences of texting, people should embrace this evolution and understand that this new form of communication may actually have benefits on literacy. This author once stated, “there is no evidence that texting teaches people to spell badly: rather, research shows that those kids who text frequently are more likely to be the most literate and the best spellers, because you have to know how to manipulate language.” The moral panic created by this form of socialization should be diminished, as people have the power and ability to shape our future.…
- 1365 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
First, Cullington notes common arguments of the negative impact of texting. For instance, the one about students the usage of too many abbreviations.Sometimes those abbreviations are discovered in students' formal writing. Consisting of “cuz”, an abbreviation normally used for because. Another…
- 366 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Text messaging has become an integral part of our lives; it has developed very rapidly throughout the world. With the uprising of new forms of communication that technology has introduced comes a debate on what effect these new digital mediums have on literacy. Text messaging is fastly becoming a primary form of communication for various numbers of people around the world. The mainstream media claims that the short hand and abbreviated characteristics of text messaging are making children lazy, not forcing them to use the proper grammar they learn in school. Feldman states that texting has become so popular that many have taken to calling today’s teens “generation text.” Texting is defined as the use of abbreviations and other techniques to craft messages sent through the cell phone. Texting does not always follow the standard rules of English grammar, nor usual word spellings. Literacy refers to more than reading and writing printed language. Plester, Wood and Joshi define literacy as the ability to decode information in various orthographic formats, including digital media, to make meaning from it, and to encode information into those formats to communicate ideas to others (3).…
- 1047 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
In 2008, CTIA and Harris Interactive conducted a survey of 2,000 teenagers across the United States. The survey revealed that four out of five teenagers own a cell phone; they are considered a necessary accessory and a symbol of status among teens. Nearly half of kids who own cell phones get their first one between the ages of 8 and 12 years old, according to the Neilson Company. (1) While cell phones may be perceived as the key to a teen’s social life, the reality is that cell phones represent such a serious health and safety risk for teens that they should be banned from teens until the age of 18. The use of cell phones among teens allows them to harm themselves through inappropriate use, especially through the use of video and camera features. Additionally, cell phone use among teens while driving rivals alcohol use as a cause of automobile accidents. Some parents claim their children have cell phones because it makes them safer. It is clear that the dangers far outweigh any benefits.…
- 1109 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In modern times, it is a rational speculation to say nine out ten teenagers own a cell phone of some type. It is also within reason to say that cell phone use has doubled in the past ten years and will most likely double again ten years from now. Teens nowadays are much more tech friendly than their parents due solely to the fact that they have been surrounded by technology ever since birth. Also, the human brain learns much quicker when it is young. During those early years, it is important for teens to learn skills such as responsibility and good communication. As cell phone technology continues to advance, the human race will eventually use a cell phone for just about anything.…
- 505 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Communication technology is changing our way of life. Language is no exception. Some language researchers argue that written language is deteriorating due to the increase usage of electronic communication. The present study investigated 50 mobile phone users selected randomly using Short Messaging Service (SMS) as one of their daily communication tools with the purpose to find out whether SMS language will cause written language deterioration in Malaysia. SMS language is defined as using abbreviations, newly created words, code-switching, code-mixing and emoticons in the messages. The findings indicated that the majority of the respondents agree that SMS language causes written language deterioration. This could be because messages are full of spoken-like spelling, unconventional use of punctuation and abbreviations, and ungrammatical sentence in order to conform to the conditions of electronic communication to reduce space, time and effort. Although the language change due to the advancements in electronic communication technology is inevitable, we have to bear in mind that the negative impact on the written language has to do with the technology users not the technology itself.…
- 789 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays