That could be worsening the situation. But the underlying problem lies in the public education curriculum. Children aren't taught to write anymore (or spell, or proper grammar).
As an adjunct professor at a major North Texas university, I discussed an opening to teach Business Writing 101 with the department head. This was around 1997.
He warned me that it would be a frustrating job and that most of the students couldn't spell, didn't have any idea of proper grammar and had difficulty composing a coherent sentence.
"Good heavens, why?", I asked.
He responded with "Because they were never taught to do any of these things in grade school or high school."
Next, I asked, "What would be a reasonable objective to accomplish over the course of the semester?"
His answer: "If you could get one coherent paragraph out of them, you will have done your job."
I might add that, from that same time as an adjunct, I discovered that the majority of my Junior and Senior level students were absolutely stymied by long division.
My impression was that the kids were generally bright and eager to learn --yet, they had never been taught the basics of reading, writing and 'rithmatic.
Have you read Allan Bloom’s, “The Closing of the American Mind” ?
Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students
http://www.amazon.com/Closing-American-Mind-Education-Impoverished/dp/1451683200
They are not bright and eager to learn, or at least many of their peers are not. You can’t get anything done when there is mass disruption all the time yet you are told ‘keep kids in the classroom’ even after a gang bang.
College profs really need to get to the high schools if they think it is so easy. And then try middle school. Most of them wouldn’t last a week.