Teen's Internet Socializing Not a Bad Thing

When I read the article, I didn't really agree with it. The whole "giving kids skills" is not necessarily true. It's different for every teen. Teens that IM and write things that are barely comprehensible online are just as likely to do so in the classroom. More and more, teens, especially younger ones, seem to think Internet talk and spelling is not wrong or bad to use in everyday writing. I remember in one of my classes in high school, people honestly didn't even know the difference from the words "two, to, and too" or "they're, their, and there", mistakes, intentional or not, I see all the time on Facebook and E-mail. The article states that "their participation is giving them the technological skills and literacy they need to succeed in the real world".Technological skills, maybe, but more often than not, literacy suffers. The part where the author put in that teens use the media to explore new romantic relationships was kind of a stretch. The Facebook wall posts described seemed silly, how would a meaningful relationship start from that conversation? The article seemed to prove the opposite of its topic, that Internet socializing makes teens "addicted "and careless about spelling and grammar. Only one example was used to show how it enhances knowledge of technology. I also agree with it helping teens maintain social relationships, but one statement; "Youth respect one another's authority online" , is not true, in my opinion. People are more likely to disrespect one another online than in person. Fights happen all the time over the Internet. It's easier to say things you wouldn't normally say to someone to their face.