In addition to a natural desire to imitate friends and family, the researchers speculated that some texting tweens made poor grammar choices in more formal writing because they had trouble switching between techspeak and the normal rules of grammar.

Many tweens take shortcuts or use so-called techspeak when sending text messages.

Although anecdotal evidence of the use of text messaging by students has emerged in the past few years, the examiners' report suggests that such abbreviations are becoming the norm.

It is something that teachers need to tackle urgently if we have reached the stage where students are making such errors in exams."

The information presented in this review represents data retrieved from current internet sources and data bases related to the effects of text messaging on elementary and high school students’ learning experiences.

In a recent study conducted by Drouin&Davis (2009), the authors used the term ‘textspeak’ explaining that it is a form of written language that involves use of acronyms, symbols representations, and language mechanics that include capitals, vowels, and punctuation marks. For example, the words thanks would be written as ‘thx’. Similarly, the pronoun ‘you’ would be written as ‘u’ in textspeak. The authors further explained that this form of abbreviated spelling can be likened to the invented spelling of youngsters just learning to spell.

Basically, textese involves a hybrid register that contains a varied tone that is a mixture of written and oral discourse.

As many researchers who have examined CMC point out, this technology is having an impact on the value of reading and writing on our society. In addition, newer and more expanded definitions of being literate are being infused through these communication mediums (Baggott, 2006).