A few days ago, I posted about what I have experienced with grammar and spelling with school. Since then, I have been thinking more and more about the changes because of texting and social media. I am talking about how kids are no longer writing in full sentences, aren’t spelling out words and have a “texting language” all of its own.
I often wonder what will happen to my kids as they grow up with these new rules of grammar and language; rules that are allowed on social media sites. I can log into my daughter’s Myspace account right now and see several examples of her and her friends using abbreviations and incomplete sentences. I could check her text messages and see more of the same. Go onto Twitter and you will see many people who don’t use complete words and grammar correctly. I have even been guilty of it myself.
I wonder how all children will learn to relate to others on a personal level if they are not taught to. When I was a teenager, I spoke on the phone for hours with my boyfriends and friends (sorry Mom). Now, my teen spends more time texting than talking. She does talk on the phone to her girl friends. But, the last boy she dated never spoke on the phone to her. They only texted back and forth. This isn’t something that is just my kid either. This is commonplace among teens to text or type rather than talk.
I hope that texting and social media aren’t harming children today. I want my kids to be able to communicate openly with everyone and not be limited by only words on a keyboard. Will they be able to carry out jobs that require person to person interaction? Will they be able to express themselves when they are upset, hurt, angry, troubled or even happy and elated?
What do you think? Do you think that texting and social media are hindering today’s youth from expressing themselves? Do you think we are headed to a time when proper grammar and spelling are a thing of the past because of all the technology of today?
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