Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Staying in Touch in the Digital Age


In today’s digital age, we can draw a comparison between texting and letter writing. The purpose of writing letters is to share updates on what you are doing, where you are planning to visit and how much pleasure everyone had while away on vacation. Before cell phones and computers, tweens and teens stayed in touch with their friends from summer camp or long distance family by writing letters. Everyone would ask for each others' addresses and they would correspond back forth with each other. It was exciting to send and especially receive a letter in the mail from your friend.  

Today, we have texting, cell phones and social networking sites to help us stay in touch with friends and family who live far away, as well as those who live around the corner or the next town. Now when tweens and teens meet new friends they ask for their cell phone number and the texting begins. On the positive side, it is great how technology has made it so much easier to stay in touch with people. We don’t have to wait to receive “snail mail” but instantaneously receive updates on what friends are doing, where they are going and what they did on their latest adventure.

I do have to wonder though with the digital age, are children forgetting the “old fashion” way of how to communicate with one another? Social networking sites and texting are great for long distance friends and family but remind your children and yourself that it is always enjoyable and more memorable just hanging out with friends who live close by.

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