Phrases, such as, "I literally cannot even," puzzle adults because they are wondering why these teenagers are speaking gibberish. Also, parents are contemplating the reason behind why teenagers cannot finish their statement with the appropriate verb. The New York Times' writer Amanda Hess, posted an article on this phrase and stated that teenager's language is a type of rebellion in which the slang presents shelter or it is a defense mechanism from adult scrutiny. Slang is widely used throughout the media today in which teenagers are thoroughly engaged in due to the popularity of social media networks and even from modern day television.
According to the article, Language Development in Teenagers, when an individual begins their teenage years, their language development increases and grows into more complex syntax for spoken and written communication. Teenagers understand the need to use appropriate language because their brains have evolved much from the amount of schooling they have been through. Even though teenagers have the knowledge for proper language use, they will speak in slang often because it is a way to fit in with their peers. Yet again, social media has a major impact with teenager's language skills because of the amount of time they spend texting and messaging on these networks. They get so accustomed to the language they use behind their phone and computer screens that they begin speaking it and even sometimes including it in papers and school assignments.
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Overall, teenagers have invented a new way of speaking language that does not necessarily make sense to adults. Slang is used frequently in social media networks which is the place teenagers derive it from. It is not appropriate to incorporate slang into formal papers in their education, but it sometimes occurs because of the numerous occasions where teenagers use it in their everyday language. It is something that became a regular habit for them.