Some individuals have expressed their concern that young people’s reading and writing capabilities are impeded by the prevalence of computers and mobile phones. This essay partially concurs with this stance, acknowledging the drawbacks of technology in communication while still advocating for its benefits.
Admittedly, computers and mobile phones may have negative effects on the young’s reading and writing skills. For one, the informal nature of text messaging has led to the decline of formal, academic writing styles. As society progressed from physical letters to digital textboxes, more emphasis is now placed on swiftness and concision rather than proper spelling and punctuations. Online posts and text messages are often written in a casual manner, involving abbreviations and slangs while neglecting grammatical structure. As a result, young people may be accustomed to writing in this informal tone and struggle to compose more serious, professional pieces. Additionally, the proliferation of short-form, quick content from platforms like TikTok could undermine the young’s comprehension abilities should they be consumed in excess. Research has shown that children who spend more time watching short videos are more distracted and inattentive during reading sessions compared to their peers, suggesting a negative correlation between screen time and the development of sustained attention as well as comprehension skills. For the aforementioned reasons, the increasing use of technological devices may have detrimental effects on young people.
However, technology, when used correctly, can also enhance young people’s ability to read and write. Computers, mobile phones and especially the Internet has enabled access to more information than ever before, thereby greatly expanding the available learning material. By interacting with the correct media, such as e-books, online articles or blogs, the young can greatly improve their reading skills while still keeping themselves up-to-date. Personal journals, literary sites and news articles provide ample material for fostering better reading. Moreover, countless online learning programs and tools are available to equip young people with the necessary academic writing skills to succeed in a professional or academic setting. Grammar checkers, spelling tools and interactive writing platforms allow young users to learn from mistakes and improve literacy. Clearly, these are considerable benefits that using computers or mobile phones can bring.
To conclude, while it is true that technology overuse can have negative effects on the young’s reading and writing abilities, it could also be beneficial if utilized in a correct manner. Further discussion and deliberation will be needed to ensure that computers and phones will not be harming young people’s capabilities.