"I'm on facebook, not in English class..."

Many web 2.0 tools are thought of--and used--in a manner largely influenced by context and experience; that is, the context in which the application is both initially encountered and most often used tends to inform the manner in which the application is used. The "way" people--and students are no exception--use various web 2.0 apps tends to be something like what we talk about when we discuss "style" as writing teachers: though the act of putting pen to paper is a simple communicative act that can be used to many ends--the same can be said for web 2.0 apps--the end product that writers produce (the style they employ, the tone they utilize) is highly influenced by the genre in which they are writing. Writing a business letter? The style is largely determined beforehand (Microsoft Word offers templates), the tone is marked by formal diction. Writing a literary analysis? The tricks of the trade are taught in English class (not after school online on a computer), the tone is--for lack of a better term--academic. Writing a note on facebook? OMG I hv 2 stdy 4 a tst and I am BTT!