Kruti Dave

UWRT 1101-028
Blandford
09/16/15

WTE #2
Digital literacies are a crucial part of society. Social networks, blogs,
and YouTube are amongst one of the most popular ways to connect and voice
opinions. Digital literacies have created a language of their own. Social
networks such as Facebook and twitter allow individuals living on polar sides
of the Earth to communicate with each other. YouTube is a fine source for
spreading the word. Whether it be videos, songs, or news which can be sent
to any corner of the earth just by a simple upload button, YouTube can
virtually do it all. Blogs are similar to YouTube, blogs are just another way of
distributing news and ideas. The list extends but these are just a few
examples of digital literacies. Digital literacies are truly varied from verbal
communication.
Social networking is a phenomenal tool that has a language of its own;
I use snapchat and Facebook to connect with those who I am not able speak
with in person. Snapchatting allows a photo to be sent instantaneously.
Sending pictures is a type of communication, like the quote a picture is
worth a thousand words a photo can put forth a deep message. Since Im
attending a university the main way I interact with friends back home is
through snapchat. Instagram is another social network consisting of only
pictures; ideas and thoughts are diffused on that site as well. Im not directly
speaking to them but it is as if Im sharing my world with them directly
through photos. Facebook is an even less direct social network, photos and
messages can be uploaded worldwide. Facebook adds to a more visual
language drifting away from the traditional verbal language. On Facebook I
see posts from friends whom I used to speak with and to this very day I still
get an update about their life. Digital literacies take away from traditional
face to face communication but nevertheless social networking allows more
alliances to be made. Digital literacies can be form of indirect language but
the implication is understood. These literacies form world of their own and
produce connections which are equivalent to forming a new language.
Texting is another big literacy, humans save energy and time communicating
via text messages. Messages sent back and forth through these literacies
could be interpreted differently than intended. This truly shows these devices
can obscure ones perception.

New literacies are being formed rapidly. Ten years ago only a small
proportion of literacies existed, indicating that the growth of these literacies
are exponential. Using digital literacies has just become a daily habit.
Texting, snapchatting, and YouTube are a part of my daily routine. Most
people are similar to me, and have been accustomed to using these
literacies as well. The slightest reduction in social media usage seems almost
impossible to me. There will be an expansion to literacies in years to come.
In the next ten years digital literacies will be the main form of conversing
with others. Traditional verbal speaking will have disappeared and
communication will solely be done through the web or a network. Humans
will be so accustomed to interacting in this manner; that they will have
forgotten how to transverse verbally. Digital literacies are also a more
efficient way to export opinions into the outside world. Perceptions will be
more obscured because the only certain way to interpret a message correctly
is to receive it practically in real life. Language produced through these
literacies is usually not tangible because it can consist of two separate
meanings.
Digital literacies create a language of their own. The interpretations are
varied from verbal communication to digital communications. Mixed
messages can be sent through digital literacies because they are more
difficult to interpret. Face to face communication is a traditional way of
communicating but it is also the most simplistic of them all. Humans are
evolving to be accustomed to the digital web; in ten years digital literacies
will be the main way of interacting with one another.