Because Internet

Old, Semi, & Full Finternet people:

• Old -- 1st wave of people who used networked computers. Interacted with strangers (friends weren't online yet). Usenet, IRC, BBSes, MUDs, listservs, forums. Highest level of avg tech skill.


• Semi -- used the internet as a tool, but kept their social lives as before.


• Full -- fully embraced the internet as a medium

all our texting and tweeting is making us better at expressing ourselves

in writing.

"

Pre internet people generally have one account somewhere that someone set up for them. They know how to do basic things, as long as there are no changes."

Meme: a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by internet users.

"What we learn, long before we utter any words, is that conversation is made up of turns."

"

Every speaker is learning how to write exquisite layers of social nuance that we once reserved for speech, whether we mark them by switching alphabets, switching languages, or respelling word." p.57

This is a presentation on the book, just the tip of the iceberg if you're interested in more :)

"Context collapse": the issue of not having a platform unique to them (to avoid overlap with parents, coworkers, etc.) While they have always been online, they may or may not have other tech skills.

"The internet, then, makes language change faster because it leads to more weak ties: you can remain aware of people you don't see anymore, and you can get to know people who you never would have met otherwise." p.39

"Studies found the messages overall have been getting more complex over time."

p.58