Group items tagged

"The Rise of the Toilet Texter"

"I am a bit mobile keyboard challenged. While I type like a maniac, I'm what anyone would call a slow texter.  I have trouble with tasks others find simple-finding the perfect emoji, as well as basics like copying and pasting.  So, for me Gboard is a major keyboard shift. Last week, the Official Google Blog announced Gboard. Available at the App Store for iPhone and iPad, Gboard is the essential keyboard app you didn't know you needed.  (Well, I kinda did.)"

"Children's unorthodox spelling and grammar while texting does not stop them learning the rules of formal English, suggests research. Just over 160 children, aged between eight and 16, from the West Midlands, took part in the snapshot study. The researchers compared spelling and grammar in formal tests and in text messages, at the start of the project and again after a year. The results showed the most creative texters were among the best spellers. The children were asked to copy out all their text messages over a two-day period."

"IN BRIEF Anxiety about the effects of social media on young people has risen to such an extreme that giving children smartphones is sometimes equated to handing them a gram of cocaine. The reality is much less alarming. A close look at social media use shows that most young texters and Instagrammers are fine. Heavy use can lead to problems, but many early studies and news headlines have overstated dangers and omitted context. Researchers are now examining these diverging viewpoints, looking for nuance and developing better methods for measuring whether social media and related technologies have any meaningful impact on mental health."