OMG LMAO
……..Text-messaging, or ‘texting,’ is the sending of short messages between cellular phones via messaging services, and instant-messaging (IM) via personal computers connected to the Internet. Normally texting/IM jargon is employed for the sake of brevity in phones’ SMS and MMS messages, which are limited to 160 characters, and in IM, in which rapidity of verbal give-and-take between communicators is desired. The abbreviations of words, new words, and acronyms include, “LOL,” which represents ‘laugh(ing) out loud,’ which means ‘I consider that humorous.’ Texters write, “TLK2UL8R” rather than ‘I will talk to you later.’ “Texts are brief, spontaneous, and informal — even more so than e-mail … [omitting] the minimal greetings and pleasantries usually contained in email messages” (Hunton & Williams, 2009). 
…….Texting via mobile phones or computers can enhance interpersonal, social communication and can facilitate real-time problem-solving communication in some businesses. However, some adults, particularly parents, sociologists, and psychologists, bemoan the overuse of these modern means of quick, informal communication by the youths of America.
Health problems, social-development concerns, and English-language education issues are reasons that adults object to youths’ over-zealous, compulsive texting and instant-messaging.
……..First we’ll survey health concerns arising from overuse of texting between youths in the U.S. Compulsive text-messaging worries physicians and psychologists, who say that it contributes to anxiety about being in-the-know (or not), anxiety about gossip, repetitive stress injuries, and sleep deprivation (Hafner, 2009).
……..Pediatrician Dr. Martin Joffe surveyed students in two high schools and found that many sent (and read) hundreds of text messages per day, even “responding to texts late at night. That’s going to cause sleep issues in an age group that’s already plagued with sleep issues” (ibid.). Even youths who intend to go to sleep often wish to keep their cell phones switched on and near their beds to be receptive to communications from friends. They are roused by hearing beeping or vibrating phones for hours and thus do not enjoy deep sleep. 
As teenagers send up to 3,000 messages per week by rapidly manipulating tiny keyboards on mobile phones, repetitive motion injury to thumbs – even if only temporary — sometimes results. Family-practice doctors and pediatricians hear more complaints each year of pain and cramping in hands from preteens and teenagers with addictions to texting.
……..Next, let us look briefly at concerns of frequent text-messaging’s effects on social development of youths. Speaking ability and listening skills are not improved by thumbing frantically on cellular phones or tapping on computers’ keyboards alone at home. Youths seem to be spending less time communication ideas, feelings, and facts face-to-face. “Properly addressing people with whom they are meeting, speaking clearly, listening well, using appropriate body language and eye contact are basic functional skills that are left out of texting interaction. The brevity of texting also precludes getting into deeper discussions that can contribute to the continued development of thinking skills” (Tovey, 2010). Psychologist Susan Newman, Ph.D. says, “We’re missing the valuable lessons in-the-flesh talks can teach us” (Shape.com, 2010).
……..The third major problem that’s perceived is that of parents and educators, who are worried about students’ English language mastery, including learning to write complex ideas while using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Texting by phone and instant-messaging by home computer when employed extensively by youths in primary- and secondary schools, purportedly stunts the development of writing skills, which are not needed in such informal, peer-to-peer communication such as, “’ill b l8 4 skool,” which has no regard for capitalization, punctuation, or spelling.
……..Seemingly every report of a study that finds negative effects of frequent texting is countered by another study’s report that claims that students who text frequently, score well in standard spelling tests. Nonetheless, educators assert that frequent texting may hinder preteens’ and teenagers’ development of English writing and conversation skills.
……..In some businesses, when talking via phone or face-to-face is not convenient or permissible, colleagues confer with each other and report to supervisors by texting with smart phones.
……..However, primary- and secondary school teachers advocate that youths first learn the rules of English composition before breaking them. And they allege that mastery of English is slowed when it is not practiced enough or is countered by this new shorthand chatting.
……..Oxford Learning (2006) claims that during primary education years, texting could be detrimental to learning proper English. “The first grades are all about vocabulary lists, … spelling tests, … sentence writing. Spelling can take a hit when kids, during this critical learning time, use short forms before they know the whole word, let alone how to spell it.” Opponents counter that shortening words such as “see,” “you,” “why,” and “are” to C, U, Y, and R do not cause kids to forget their proper spellings. Oxford Learning continues: “A big part of grammar is punctuation. It takes years to learn how to properly use it. Online messaging has practically no punctuation, and is basically a grammar free-for-all.”
……..Few would disagree with the assertion that instant-messaging has no concern for expressing complete, cohesive thoughts and usually serves to convey single words or sentence fragments, such as exclamations and agreements. Educators want to teach students to express arguments clearly by writing (and speaking) complete thoughts. Usage of one-word messages and sentence fragments that are prevalent in texting do not help youths to learn to convey complete thoughts.
What solutions may be considered for the problems that adults perceive in youth’s compulsive texting?
……..Suggestions for improving compulsive texters’ mental and physical health include advocating moderation or even periods of abstinence. Physicians would advise those who suffer problematic musculoskeletal pain from doing a repetitive, unnecessary activity to try cessation or lessening of the activity.
‘Doctor, whenever I do this it hurts me so much!’ ‘Well, stop doing that!’ To prevent ‘texter thumb’ pain, one can reduce the frequency of texting, perhaps by reserving that activity to certain ‘downtimes’ rather than texting day and night.
To alleviate sleep deprivation that results from staying awake late to chat with friends, parents or guardians may embargo cell phones overnight. They may insist that personal computers do not reside in youths’ bedrooms.
Some youths are anxious to be ‘in the loop,’ staying in communication and in the desired social circles, and some are anxious about being subjects of gossip, calumny, and even hate speech.
Parents, educators, pastors, and other counselors can interact, in healthy, esteem-building ways with youths, providing attention, solicitation for their concerns and fears, and even unconditional love.
Socialization with parents, siblings, grandparents, church members, and neighbors face-to-face can condition and socialize youths in ways counter to electronic chatting, which is typically gossip-laden and potentially emotionally harmful.
Youths can learn effective and satisfying interpersonal communication by conversing as people have done for millennia.
……..Regarding scholastic performance concerns, parents can try to prohibit children from taking mobile phones to school so that they focus attention on classroom lessons and devote efforts to coursework. Schools can prohibit possession of and use of cellular phones, which disrupts learning processes of senders and receivers.
……..In homes, parents can mandate that students’ personal computers are only used in common areas where they can be supervised. Parents or guardians can ensure that students are not logged onto chat/messaging clients on computers while they do homework. A similar caveat applies to cell phones at home; parents can embargo cell phones so that students can focus on homework without concern for being constantly in communication with peers. Students’ attention spans may increase if they can read books and use other course materials without repeated distractions or beeping or chiming IM accounts and cellular phones.
……..In conclusion, adults who are troubled by youths’ overuse of texting and potential deleterious effects can take steps to prevent or lessen side effects by using common sense and exerting parental –or school official– authority to limit cell phone and computer IM usage and provide appropriate modeling of effective interpersonal communication which doesn’t rely on electronics.
References
Hafner, K. (2009, May 25). Texting may be taking a toll. New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2010 from www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html?em=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1280438628-acXE103wmxr0H91fVptusg
Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives. (2009, December 22). New means of communication: employee text messaging presents unique employment issues. Retrieved July 29, 2010 from http://www.huntonlaborblog.com/2009/12/articles/employment-policies/new-means-of-communication-employee-text-messaging-presents-unique-employment-issues/
Oxford Learning Centres. (2006, October 26). Retrieved July 29, 2010 from http://www.oxfordlearning.com/letstalk/2006/10/26/texting-vs-writing-the-problem-with-instant-messag/
Shape.com. (2010). Disadvantages of email & texting in relationships. Weider Publications. Retrieved July 29 from www.shape.com/lifestyle/relationships/dating/relationship_advice
Tovey, P. (2010, June 29). Teen texting: affecting college grads’ communication skills? Suite101.com. Retrieved July 29, 2010 from http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/communication-skills-lacking-in-college-grads–is-texting-to-bla