Decline of young people's communication skills

Rachel Konrad, Matt Abrahams, Time -  We teach communication skills at Stanford University. We’re also parents, coaches, and consultants in Silicon Valley. We’ve been worried about adolescents’ diminishing writing and speaking skills for years. Lately, we have noticed that these skills are eroding at an accelerating rate, month-over-month. 

Communication skills are essential for creating healthy relationships, maintaining mental health, fostering civic engagement, and building a successful career. And, while teenagers today are the most connected generation in history, they are also the least prepared to communicate with depth, confidence, and empathy. 

The environments where students develop communication skills are collapsing. Social media squeezes out face-to-face interactions. Memes replace conversations. And much of our test-based education system emphasizes rote memory and standard exams over fundamental skills such as storytelling—a core cognitive and social function that shapes our identities, bonds our communities, and differentiates our species.

The bottom line is that young people are at risk of losing the communication skills that connect us. The bright side is that simple measures may help reverse the slide. 
How we got here: lockdowns, likes, LLMs  

During the pandemic, American teenagers’ face-to-face interaction plunged. In its place came extensive texting, social media, and, in late 2022, AI companions. As these tools became the norm, real-life communication plunged. 

U.S. teens spend on average 5 hours per day on social media; nearly half are online constantly. Likes, streaks, and emojis may feel like connection—but face-to-face contact is what builds meaningful intimacy and reinforces communication skills. 

One survey found that nearly nine out of 10 students ages 14-22 in the USA use AI for schoolwork. When a student types a complex question into a chatbot, they get a polished (though not necessarily authentic, accurate or nuanced) answer in seconds. As a result, many students have come to expect immediate resolutions to life’s questions and challenges—without first-person research or reflection.