Literacy and Online Communication

LOC       Literacy and Online Communication

The written word has been a powerful thing, motivating many to action. Matt Johnson, Carl Somerson, Tricia Bellwater, are individuals who may not have touched or motivated many but their "written work" has been an inspiration and motivation to me.  To write an eloquent message in a 140 characters is a work of beauty. Individuals are able to identify with the mass with a few emoticons and abbreviations of words. It takes a true type of writing skill to write an inspiring piece. Though the piece may be "littered with emoticons," sometimes those truly help the article connect with their audience. The world is constantly changing and technology improving. This forces a change in the inhabitants of the world.

The study shows that university essays are not being tarnished by our lack of knowledge. It shows that people are better educated and are adapting and changing as fast as the technology is. The lack of knowledge or laziness is not caused by the change in technology or change in societies priorities. No, instead this hints to the exact opposite. Text speak and online communication has become a strategy of efficiency. Societies members are constantly juggling work, family, friends and leisure. Technology has created a better and more efficient way to balance life. Individuals have not by-passed previous knowledge about grammar, spelling, and punctuation, it has just allowed a efficient way to keep in touch and maintain relations. It is easier and more efficient to send a quick message then to phone someone or write a letter.

It is always exasperating to read comments of illiteracy and lack of knowledge from those who probably have the absence of the skill to make a post or "decode" a text speak. The digital environment has given us a gift to speak our minds freely, create our own world, and creates a greater balance in our life. Individuals have been given the necessary tools today to touch peoples lives with a few short words broadcasted on the internet. Although some people think that technology is digressing our society, I would argue that it is creating a more efficient, adaptable, and progressive society.