"Blogging" can the Youth benefit from it?

Recent study conducted by Pew Internet and American Life Project in conjunction with the College Board and the National Commission on Writing has come to some interesting conclusions about teens and the effects of blogging on their writing.

One find that was not so great was that teens are increasingly using the abbreviations they use in text messaging in their formal writing assignments. In addition, the study found that teens that text message each other on a frequent basis are not any more likely to write than other teens.

On the other hand, the study did find that teen bloggers are more likely to write online and offline as well. Apparently, 47% of those teens that blog also write for other personal reasons several times per week outside of school. Only 33% of teens that do not have blogs, on the other hand, write outside of school. In addition, only 53% of non-blogging teens say they feel writing is important in order to be successful later in life while 65% of blogging teens felt the same way.

Another benefit to blogging is that some experts believe the style of writing that teens use while blogging can actually be more beneficial to them than the type of writing they learn in school.

“In real ways, blogging and other forms of virtual debate actually foster the very types of intellectual exchange, analysis, and argumentative writing that universities value,” notes Bradley A. Hammer, who is a teacher at the Duke University writing program.

One reason for teens turning to blogging is the fact that they can write about whatever they want. According to the study, teens said they were more likely to write when they were able to choose the topic and when the topic was of personal interest and was relevant to their lives in some way. They also reported that they enjoyed writing for school more when they were allowed to write creatively. Similarly, teens felt more motivated to write when they knew they were writing for an audience. With blogging., all of these needs can be met. Isn't this cool???