Talking with tweens and teens can feel like learning a new language. The abbreviations, the catch-phrases, the invented slang terms… It’s a whole thing. In texting, kids’ language becomes even more distorted and abbreviated. Abbreviations and emojis make things fun, easier, and faster to type. However, parents and educators have started to wonder whether texting is starting to influence kids’ writing in other settings. 

What the Data Shows

The good news is, studies trend in the direction that texting is not negatively impacting kids’ grammar abilities. Some data has even found some positive effects. 

This study published in PLOS One, labels the method children use to communicate over text as “textese”, or a style of writing that allows for the omission of words/letters and use of “textisms” such as “c u l8r”. The study actually found some positive correlations between omitting words from text and following grammar rules in conversation. As the authors explain…

“By using textese—and as a consequence omitting words in their messages—children apply rules of grammar and do so in a context-sensitive manner. To decide which words to drop in which context, children analyse their sentences and in doing so, are constantly training their grammatical knowledge, and strengthening their grammar system.” (Van Dijk CN, van Witteloostuijn M, Vasić N, Avrutin S, Blom E. 2016. P 22).

In other words, as children learn to omit and abbreviate text, they are actually fine-tuning and challenging their grammar knowledge.

What Are the Concerns

Texting can, however, certainly pose a threat to the development of some key writing and overall communication skills, especially for teens. Here are some things to look out for as your children age, and rely more on texting as their primary form of communication. 

Lazy Writing

Teachers are highlighting autocorrect as one of the major detriments to writing skills for kids. 

Kids value fast and easy over accuracy in most things, and writing is no exception. When they can fly through a text message and trust that autocorrect will fix the errors for them, it allows them to type more efficiently. However, it also forms some negative habits.

Relying on autocorrect does not train their brains to look for grammatical or spelling errors. As a result, some teachers say they are spending more time now than before, highlighting basic spelling and grammatical errors in coursework.

Like so many other aspects of modern life, texting also encourages teens to take shortcuts to hit “send” more quickly. This could lead to quicker burnout or frustration when engaged in formal writing that requires more attention and deliberation. For example, a research paper may start to feel extremely tedious and discouraging when they can’t find the right words or direction to take immediately upon starting. 

Writing essays, or even emails, take patience and persistence beyond what is required over text.

Underdeveloped Conversation Skills

Texting also does not offer the opportunity to develop many of the skills that are essential for effective conversation. It does not require kids to…

1. Think on Their Feet

Think about what happens when tweens are talking in a group and someone says something awkward. There is no luxury of a “…” to take time to consider what to say next. The need to respond is public and urgent. The ability to find a response that will take the conversation back where it needs to go is a precious skill. For those who grew up communicating via phone conversations, the awkward silence was palpable. In the world of texting, kids aren’t learning how to work through a conversation, or cope with conversational lulls in effective ways. 

2. Read Non-Verbal Cues and Detect Emotions

Non-verbal communication accounts for a large portion of overall communication. When engaged in a conversation, our brains are not just hearing the words that are said. We are also evaluating the person’s tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. We can tell if the person we are chatting with is starting to get bored, distracted, angry, or annoyed, by what we are saying. 

Kids can’t evaluate what the other person may look or sound like over text, and trying to read sarcasm or emotion is really difficult.  As a result, kids may be missing key information that leads them to misinterpret what is being said. 

Miscommunication over text is more common and more likely to cause relationship issues.

More importantly, kids are not practicing how to engage in conversation when non-verbal communication and emotions are not in play. 

What Can Parents Do?

Encourage Communication Balance

Kids need to balance their text life with face-to-face communication with peers. Teens, especially, need ample time in a non-structured setting (away from classrooms, activities, or practices) to engage in social interactions with their friends. 

Texting is an excellent way to keep in touch or touch base. However, if it accounts for a large portion of a child’s socialization, they may not develop key communication skills they need to succeed in the future.

Encourage Print Media Consumption

Help your kids engage in print media and literature, and pen-to-paper writing activities.  Keep magazines, books, and encyclopedias around the house and model reading/using them. Encourage your kids to journal, complete homework assignments on paper when possible, or write letters to family and friends. Like everything in the world of media, strike a balance by introducing and encouraging writing opportunities away from devices. 

Stay In the Know

As silly as it sounds, it’s important to keep up to date with the “textisms” of the day so that you can keep an eye on what kind of conversations your children are having. 

Stay Alert To Maintain Healthy Habits

Be vigilant and aware of texting habits that are becoming addictive or disruptive. If you notice texting is becoming too frequent, all-consuming, or impeding your child’s sleep, consider those red flags that require attention. Texting can also allow kids to lie more easily, pick on others, bully, or retreat to isolation. Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles advises parents to look out for these things when monitoring healthy use of texting as communication. 

There is not overly concerning evidence to show that texting degrades children’s writing skills, but it certainly can influence them. Moreover, it can impede the development of vital conversation and communication skills if not balanced with plenty of time for in-person socialization with peers. No matter the age and stage of development, kids need to be together to thrive.