HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPACTING EVERYDAY WRITING

In 2019, approximately 223 million Americans use social media. From Facebook to Snapchat, these platforms are part of daily life, changing our routines in multiple ways. Many argue social media usage is affecting our ability to write properly, while others see social media as an opportunity to practice writing and spelling more often. Both sides, however, agree social media engagement is impacting everyday writing.

Even though it has become a crucial element of business, many people blame social media for the decrease in the quality of writing. They argue it is a malignant disease affecting writing by ignoring the importance of grammar, spelling and punctuation. Since social media writing is focused on the message being shared quickly instead of focusing on proper writing, these details are often ignored to allow quick typing in 140 characters or less. But this trend can also be seen as an emerging writing style.

Advocates of social media argue, contrary to popular belief, social media is improving writing techniques among users, by allowing them to practice writing and spelling more often. People are spending more time writing than ever. Although words are being modified, this practice is creating new words that are assimilating into our vocabulary and causing an evolution in human language. It is like learning a new language, while encouraging creativity with the use of acronyms and abbreviations such as ICYMI, IFTTT, TBT and TGIF.

For better or worse, social media is part of everyday life and has become a key component of business and education. Learning the terms associated with social media is comparable to learning a new language, one that will provide the necessary tools to succeed in the online world.
-Mariana Anchante