INFOGRAPHIC: Is Text Messaging Ruining the English Language?

Do u txt? According to this infographic from OnlineSchools.com, 8 trillion of these little messages flew back and forth between cellphone users in 2011. That amounts to 15 million messages per minute. But as a relatively new form of day-to-day communication, text messaging has also introduced a new way of communicating in the form of shorthand language. While these new "words" are certainly convenient - and even innovative - not everyone sees them as a good thing. Educators, in particular, report reading more "textese" in students' work, and less proper grammar. On the other hand, some studies have also correlated texting with good grades in school. So what do you think? Will text messaging doom proper English grammar, or is this new form of shorthand just a convenient, harmless way to communicate?