Pros and Cons of Instant Messaging

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|NAME: |YUP MUNG DAN LA AUNG |
|LOGIN #: |S75802 |
|LECTURER: |CHRISTELLE TAILLENS |

|Program: |Diploma in Audio Production |
|Course: |Communications & Computer Tehnologies |
|Assessment: | |
|Weight: |10% |
|Due Date: |April 26th, 2011 |
|Tutorial: |Assignment 01 |
|Tutor: | Christelle Taillens |

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Pros and Cons of Instant Messaging and Texting

Communication is the “exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behaviour”, and technology is “A body of knowledge used to create tools, develop skills, and extract or collect materials” – taken from Answers.com. In the 21st century, people have been faced with problems from wide-spread diseases, to natural disasters changing the lives of people in an instant, now, people may be faced with a new and growing concern, the increased use of text messaging, instant messaging is having an adverse effect on the way we communicate. There are a few effects that text messaging and instant messaging have that seem to be very common amongst people, it affects their way of interacting with one another, affects leadership skills for the future, and acts as a distraction for people doing their work.

BBM (BlackBerry Messaging), Gtalk, iChat, facebook these are many of a few of free chat logs that are used on a daily basis usually via computer or laptop. All of them are what you would call IM or instant messaging. Instant Messaging is “abbreviated IM, a type of communication service that enables you to create a kind of private chat room with another individual in order to communicate in real time over the internet, analogous to telephone conversation but using text based, not voice-based, communications.”[i] (Jupitermedia, 2008). Some teachers in high school have seen deteorating writing skills, their writing habits are slowly engulfed by abbreviations that are used in texts, IMs, or emails with close friends. A survey by the United States Senate shows that 35 million (55%) children and young adolescents use social networking while talking or texting, and over half of America’s younger aged citizens talk to strangers frequently, replacing their real friends with “e-friends”, this may cause privacy threats, perhaps even fraud in some cases.

Texting is similar to messaging except texting leans more towards mobile access to one another via cellphone or any device that is able to connect with another simultaneously at all times. By 2009, 60% of world population had access to cellphones making texting the second most common way of communication. Usually people rather choose to text than call, due to the free texts they may get on purchase of a phone line and its low costs. According to Nielson Mobile survey, more Americans text rather then use cell phones to call.[ii] (Reardon, 2008). When Disney Mobile and Harris Interactive did a study they ended up with teenagers from the age years between 10 and 17, 44% of them admit that texting was their primary source of communication. Text messaging has resulted in many good and bad effects, text messaging rather than using correct word choice or grammar, it has choppy lingo and abbreviations or acronyms used a lot more. After a long period of time, unintentionally people may start integrating their text styles into their work and may lead to communication barriers, which also will then lead to a generation gap. Texting becomes a dependent habit resulting in the person straying away from having intimate conversations, which also means the lack of meaningful communication has limited most young adolescents’ ability to build a relationship with others. But it is not always true in some cases, a British study believes that after a study they made, they found that children who text and use abbreviations “… score higher on reading and vocabulary tests. In fact, the more adept they were at abbreviating, the better they did in spelling and writing.”[iii] (Huang, 2008)

The consequences of texting does not just lead to inappropriate writing, but even harming others and themselves. One of the most growing concerns about texting is, teenagers are doing it while they are driving. “Auto accidents are the leading cause of teenager deaths in the United States. The National Safety Council, calling the issue a ‘national crisis,’ noted that 44% of all teen deaths result from crashes each year; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that nearly 6,000 teens are killed each year, with more than 300,000 teens injured.”[iv] (Brewer-Cavanaugh, 2007) Though laws are being enforced it does not seem to be stopping but just delaying the results.

In conclusion, instant messaging, texting do not have as many good influences than it deos bad. Lacking proper verbal communication skills result in lasck of confidence and the ability to be comfortable around other people. Children and teenagers are in the stages of learning how to communicate and use language, making the generation prone to use incorrect forms of communication. Texting and Instant messaging should be controlled.

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[i] Jupitermedia Corporation. (2008) Instant Messaging. Retrieved April 24th, 2011 from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/instant_messaging.html

[ii] Reardon, Marguerite. (2008). Text Messaging Explodes in America. Retrieved April 24th, 2011 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/23/tech/cnettechnews/printable4471183.shtml

[iii] Huang, Lily. (2008). The Death of English (LOL). Retrieved April 25th, 2011 from http://www.newsweek.com/id/150449

[iv] Brewer-Cavanaugh, Bonnie. (2007). Curbing Distractions. Best’s Review, 108, 46-50. Retrieved from Business Source Premier database.

Reference Sites:

Retrieved on 24th April, 2011 from http://www.oppapers.com/essays/New-Communication-Technologies-Having-Adverse-Effect/146379

Retrieved on 24th April, 2011 from http://debates.juggle.com/does-texting-have-adverse-effects-on-a-persons-ability-to-communicate-in-other-manners

(October – November 2007) Retrieved on april 25th, 2011 from http://www.thercg.org/youth/articles/0505-tlaoc.html

Article; Kelly Loftis (January 8, 2009) Retrieved on April 25th, http://www.techlearning.com/article/15078

Retrieved on April 25th, 2011 from http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_6501816_text-ability-write-speak-english_.html