For young people, cyberspace is a real world. As shown in the latest report by NASK National Research Institute, they spend an average of over 5.5 hours online on weekdays and over 6 hours on weekends. The average daily time spent by teenagers on social media exceeded 4 hours. 16% of teenage users say they cannot go without social media for more than an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immersion in dynamic social media communication and the pressure to \u201cstudy for a test\u201d shape the writing style of today\u2019s youth. Prof. Anna D\u0105browska explores how these changes affect the ability to write longer texts. Studies show that young people, although proficient in the rapid exchange of information, struggle with the creation of more complex, logical statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. D\u0105browska analyzed the primary and middle school examination documents from 2002-2021. She paid particular attention to the importance of social media for the language and forms of communication used by young people. She observed that the education system, which focuses on getting prepared for tests, often neglects the development of analytical, argumentative, and critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the heart of Prof. Anna D\u0105browska\u2019s research is \u201cnew orality.\u201d In essence, the phenomenon involves a blending of forms of expression typical of writing with more spontaneous, informal forms used in oral communication. Young people using platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are increasingly less likely to create texts that meet the criteria of coherence and logical structure. More and more often, they are having problems formulating their thoughts independently and editing texts in accordance with instructions, or even with the rules of grammar and spelling. As a result, traditional written text is being replaced by written speech, which young people use on a daily basis. Prof. D\u0105browska asks: How do these changes affect the development of young people and their ability to participate in the culture based on writing? After all, literacy is not only a technique, but also a medium that develops thinking processes \u2013 such as categorization and abstraction \u2013 that are key to understanding the world and self-development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWriting improves logical thinking, which is essential for constructing statements according to a certain structure and order. A text, even a spoken one, that has been prepared in writing beforehand (characterized by a specific structure and order) differs greatly from one that is delivered spontaneously (often digressive and chaotic). Writing combines creativity and discipline. Discipline is important for the text to be understandable, and creativity is necessary for it to be interesting,\u201d Prof. D\u0105browska explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The education system is not without fault. Exams, often in the form of tests, require students to meet standards that do not support writing skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to D\u0105browska, young people learn to write in an instrumental way, focusing on meeting the requirements of the test rather than on argumentation or critical analysis. This approach does not reflect their actual writing skills, which are evident in their increasing difficulty in producing longer, logical statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not a trivial problem. The ability to write coherent texts is important not only in education, but also in social and professional life. Studies show that without developed writing skills, the younger generation may find it difficult to fully participate in the culture based on writing. This, in turn, has consequences for their future competencies, both in terms of communication and decision-making based on analysis and reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDiscipline and logical thinking are essential in many professions, and writing develops these skills. For a written text to be understandable, it must be precise. Writing teaches precision, as it requires the writer to anticipate what may be unclear to the reader and to provide additional information if necessary. Finally, creating text develops the ability to build categories, general models and structures, as well as abstract thinking,\u201d adds the author of the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. D\u0105browska\u2019s research sheds light on the challenges that education faces in the digital age. \u201cNew orality\u201d is changing the way young people think and communicate. In turn, this requires teachers and the education system to take a new approach to teaching text writing. Although changes in language and communication are natural and inevitable, teaching focused on developing skills, rather than just passing tests, seems necessary as things stand. The introduction of a greater number of diverse open-ended tasks that require students to think independently and formulate their own statements could become an important tool for developing writing skills. Ultimately, in an era dominated by fast and abbreviated communication, literacy is becoming crucial not only for the future of young people, but also for society as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n