Is Texting Taking Over?

American teens are texting up a storm, and many are more likely to text than talk, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project. But as this generation moves into the workplace, will technology use cause their social skills, and therefore their job contributions, to suffer?

The report, released Tuesday, found that some 75 percent of teens 12-17 own cell phones, and text messaging is used more frequently than any other medium, including social networking sites, instant messages and face-to-face contact, to communicate with friends. Teens also are texting during school--58 percent have done so during a class, and 65 percent carry their phones in spite of school bans.

A report from NPR found that teachers are concerned about declining interpersonal skills as a result of technology overload. "When they do finally come in and talk to you, they just seem more shy," said Nini Halkett, a history teacher in Los Angeles, Calif. "A lot of them have a harder time looking you in the eye and communicating directly with you."

We've written here at Wired Workplace about the importance of technology in attracting and retaining young professionals to public sector positions. But can advanced IT benefits also work against building a qualified and productive workforce? Have you seen coworkers--of any age--in your agency drastically change their behavior due to the technology offered them?