[Opinion] Social media vs Direct Communication

Some people think that increasing communication usage of computers and mobile phones by young people has had a negative effect on their reading and writing skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is believed that extensive exposure to electronics is having a detrimental effect on youngster’s ability to read and write. In my opinion, I partly agree with the above statement. 

It can easily be seen why writing can be affected negatively when being surrounded by the digital world. When a person type too much on their devices, their handwriting would obviously suffer. To be more specific, when not practiced, a person’s handwriting would be less legible, and their writing speed would decrease, making extended writing periods a huge challenge. This would be a disadvantage to students who are required to take written tests, as the majority of education systems still rely on exams which are given in person.

However, the arguement that electronics have negative consequences on one’s reading capability is far from the truth. In fact, digitalization actually facilitates one’s ability to read. For starters, avid readers nowadays no longer have to haul a book tote wherever they go thanks to ebooks giving them access to virtually their entire collection inside their mobile device. Not only that, they have the ability to change text fonts, size as well as lighting to adjust to their environment. Lastly, digital tools such as built-in dictionaries or highlighting functions mean a reader can learn new vocabulary and take notes, further transcending their reading experience.     

All in all, while it is true that the younger generation may have their writing ability impeded by excessive computer usage, the same cannot be said for their reading skill. Through special functions and convenience, I am of the opinion that using electronic devices for communication work not to hinder, but to foster reading.  

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