The excessive use of shorthand, particularly by Young Nigerians in Nigeria, is now becoming an epidemic that has to be addressed. Granted, there are certain universally adopted text lingo, for example, "lol" and "brb," but some people have taken it far. For example:

                 "I luv u gal cos I lyk d way u mov uur bod jur. pl tk it izy & rmba mi o."

Messages such as the one above get on my last nerve because this has not only become a shorthand issue but also a mental laziness issue. Moreover, these shorthand languages are often used outside of text-messaging, many times in emails and letters. It is now becoming an epidemic among Nigerian youths. This is sad.

They're blaming it on their phones.