The Influence Of Texting And The Internet On Communication

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How has texting and the internet influenced our communication? Or ability to learn? What has social media done to our relationships? What has been the net influence of such powerful technological for communication in one’s schooling or social life, done to our humanity? Many could say the influence has bee for the better. Many could say it has been for the worse. Indeed, the internet can both help and hinder communication and, therefore, the quality of learning and human relationships we develop through it. There are many points to praise or scorn the influence of the internet on communication. So rather than adopt a simple argument such as “the internet is good/bad for communication because of such and such reasons,” the following essay …show more content…

Cullington notes that things such as texting, while convenient, may have the effect of catalyzing the already “sloppy and laissez faire” attiude towards the mechanics of writing, so prevelant in American society (Cullington, 2). Cullington also points out other examples of elementary and high school teachers who consistently encounter problems with students using abbreviations or slang within their academic writing (Cullington, 2). Texting, as well as other forms of communication in the digital age, certainly have questionable effects on how children are learning to use and write their own language. Such technologies certainly effect their ability to communicate and think about what they communicate, as well. …show more content…

But the total effect is neither all postive or negative, particularly at this juncture in history when the technology is so new. As Taylor points out, “we have neither the benefit of historical hindsight nor the time to ponder or examine the value and cost of these advancements in terms of how it influences our children’s ability to think (Taylor).” Of course, what Taylor says of children could be just as well applied to adolescents and adults. While there is a great deal of research to suggest that such technology can be of some benefits to our learning, to our communicating, and to our human relationships as a whole—there is also a growing body of resesarch to suggest there are losses with such technology, in addition to the gains. We have not lived with this technology long enough to be able to determine the full extent of its ability to help us, or hinder us, in every crucial area of our lives. As Taylor explains: “Exposure to technology isn’t all bad. Research shows that, for example, video games and other screen media improve visual-spatial capabilities, increase attentional ability, reaction times, and the capacity to identify details among clutter. Also, rather than making children stupid, it may just be making them different (Taylor).” .=========== Indeed there are defintely grounds for making the argument that the effect of such technologies

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