Journal 1

I definitely believe that writing has changed as a result of digital technology. The growth of technology and other new things in the twenty-first century have shaped the way that writing is created, interpreted and evaluated. The way a writer writes changes with their writing medium, and this is true with technology. A writer will write differently if they are writing online compared to say, a textbook. Writing has changed for professional writers and people who write for a living, but technology has also changed writing for regular people who write during their everyday life.

            Some could say that writing has become more informal and more relaxed as technology has grown. Many scholars would argue that our younger generation has less writing skills than older generations, and this could definitely be attributed to the growth of technology. Social Media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook have completely changed our idea of writing. Our generation has grown up texting, tweeting and instant messaging. We are used to abbreviating words, using emojis or emoticons, and using less than 140 characters to get our point across. This has resulted in many people of the millennial generation are unable to hold a professional conversation or write a competent work. Technology has made it easier for millennials to get through life without needing proficient writing skills or communication skills. Although it can be argued that technology has had negative effects on writing, there are definitely some positive effects of technology on writing.

            Technology has helped to spread the circulation and audience of important and well-known works. Before technology, writing could only be acquired through ways like books themselves, but now, through forms of technology like the Internet, digital bookstores and many other forms, readers can now find a work at the tip of their fingers. Most people in our society have some sort of access to technology or the Internet, so they can easily find a work of writing, whereas before technology, it was difficult for some people to do so.  There are both pros and cons to the effects of technology on writing. While technology has weakened some people’s writing skills, it has helped to expand the field of writing and has made it more accessible to our society.