Branham 1

Taylor Branham
ENC 1101
Prof. McGriff
1 November 2016
Are Texting and Social Media the Cause of Declining Communication and Language Skills?
There is not a day that goes by anymore where we do not come into contact with some
form of an electronic device or some form of online communication. Advancements of
technology have been fast paced over the past couple of years and have caused major disputes of
whether these advancements are for the better of our society or not. For some time now, many
have argued about whether or not electronic communication and the evolution of technology
have had a negative effect to the English language and our writing. In realistic terms, technology
is not much of a danger to our society, rather it widens out perspectives, expands our ways of
communication, and enlarges our interaction and vocabulary.
With the technology and resources we have today, our perspectives are widened and we
are exposed to greater advancements. Andrea Lunsford and others state how media critics write
as if the brain takes on the qualities of whatever it consumes (Lunsford, et al. 895). This
statement clarifies on the fact that many bias that whatever we come into contact with on social
media and such is incorrect information and our brain grasps that new information which will
eventually lead us to use this new information in replacement of what was once considered
correct. However, that is not always the case that everything we grasp online is incorrect.
According to Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, todays new technologies make us smarter by
exposing us to a wide range of perspectives and giving us instant access to massive stores of new
information (Graff and Birkenstein 168). In other terms, the technology we have today allows

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Taylor Branham
ENC 1101
Prof. McGriff
1 November 2016
us to expand our knowledge and opens up hundreds of doors for us when finding out
information. Information we come across on social media or through the internet can generally
be beneficial to what our needs are and save us time rather than having to conduct old fashioned
research through books.
One major argument that comes along when discussing texting and social media
interfering with our language and writing involves texting shortcuts and abbreviations, but this is
simply just a phase. Many critics say that texting abbreviations and shortcuts are ruining the
English language and can be incorporated into students writings without them realizing it. On
the other hand, Ray Williams came across Jessee Sheidlower . . . [who] says that text messaging
is going through the natural progression of language . . . innovating with language isnt
dangerous (Williams). Simply, experimenting with the English language is just a way for us to
further understand and grasp the language. This experimenting is simply just a phase almost
everyone goes through as they become sloppy and laissez faire about the mechanics of writing
(Williams).
As a final point, technology and social media enlarge our interaction and our ability to
enhance our vocabulary. Critics retort that . . . online technologies are actually making us
dumber, even in our capacity as writers (Graff and Birkenstein 168). Despite the level of
intelligence of writers, critics still derive the sense to state that technology and online sources
outsmart people and rather than assisting society, actually makes them dumber. In argument

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Taylor Branham
ENC 1101
Prof. McGriff
1 November 2016
however, Andrea Lunsford conducted a report stating that students are adept at crafting
messages that will reach their intended audience because of their constant use of social media
(Lunsford). So despite how much we may use social media or online sources, some of the best
writings today are supported by online sources and the writer(s) knowing how to connect with
their audience.
Though there are some wrong turns that can easily be taken when communicating when
exposed to social media and technology, we all have the ability to determine what is right from
wrong. The only way to prevent ourselves from taking those wrong turns is by limiting ourselves
to what we expose ourselves to with online sources. You can have social media and talk with text
abbreviations all you want, just make sure you know when to use what language properly in
order to correctly portray yourself.

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Taylor Branham
ENC 1101
Prof. McGriff
1 November 2016
Works Cited
Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. Is Digital Communication Good or Bador Both? They
Say/ I Say. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2014. 167-171. Print.
Lunsford, Andrea. Everyones an Author. Presentation to Norton travelers, Park City. 6 Aug.
2012. Lecture.
Lunsford, Andrea, et al. Mind over Mass Media. Everyones an Author. New York: W.W.
Norton & Company, 2013. 893-894. Print.
Williams, Ray. FOCROFLOL: Is Texting Damaging Our Language Skills? Psychology Today.
28 Jul. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.