"Language"

"For the NetGen, nearly every part of life is presented in multimedia format."

When I think about the "language" that my students speak, I think of my language.  There are many times I have said to a friend, "text me later" or "send me an email."  I hear this "language" around some of the older students I work with. 
 I remember back in high school, everyone would be on AOL instant messanger.  You could have five or more conversations at once.  So much information is at our student's fingertips.  Is this how they communicate with their parents? But I have to wonder?  Is this "language" replacing the language experience that children need in order to create background knowledge? Do children know how to communicate properly if their fingers do the talking?  I agree that students will always use this "language" but, they need to remember how to communicate with people who don't speak their "language" and be willing to teach their "language."