Previous work by the Pew Internet Project suggests that the communicative functions of the internet and cell phones are the main reason why teens use these technologies., Since many of these technologies are text-based, they constitute another potential space for writing under a broadly constructed definition of the term. Yet despite the ubiquitous use of these tools, our research suggests that teens see an important distinction between the “writing” that they do for school and for personal reasons, and the “communication” they engage in electronically using instant messaging, text messaging, email and social networking sites.
However these tools are defined, many educators and observers have expressed concern that the abbreviated language styles of text messaging, email and wall posts are filtering inappropriately into formal school writing. Young adults generally do not believe that technology negatively influences the quality of their writing, but they do acknowledge that the informal styles of writing that mark the use of these text-based technologies for many teens do occasionally bleed into their school work.