We Don’t Talk as Much as We Used To

Another proof that our society is in deep trouble is a study I found recently that analyzed conversational trends over a five-year period. They found that during that period, people’s spoken word count dropped 28%, or approximately 330 words per day over the previous year. That’s approximately 120,000 fewer spoken words per year by each individual. And, of course, young people—those under the age of 25—had a much steeper decline.

         The survey was conducted from 2015 through 2019, and, although they said they couldn’t contribute the statistic to anything particular, during this same period, they acknowledge that there was a rise in texting, emails, and social media.

         For me, it’s not hard to connect the two. I recently had someone text me a message about an upcoming event, and I replied. We went back and forth about four or five times, before, in frustration, I finally texted that they should just call me and the conversation would go a lot faster.

         What I realized from that “conversation” is that people are preferring not to engage in conversation; they don’t want to talk to someone; they’d rather talk at someone, which is what texting amounts to. That way, you don’t have to deal with the person.

         According to the aforementioned study, “speaking less could have long-term social and cognitive consequences. Everyday conversation allows people to connect, which is heavily associated with well-being and helps mitigate loneliness.” According to NPR, “a reduction in face-to-face dialogue could lead to an erosion of social skills and deeper feelings of isolation.”

         So, we’ve got a lot of people who are feeling lonely, isolated, and are not developing good social skills to be able to interact with other people. And with all the crazy ideology on the Internet these days, that sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

         So, what’s the solution? The study recommended even small, intentional social interactions throughout the day: stopping by a colleague’s desk or chatting with the barista when you get your morning coffee—any of these could make a meaningful difference for you.

         I recently saw a commercial for one of the top communication providers, and in the spot, a ride-share driver is suggesting to his passengers that instead of spending time scrolling while in the car, that they should use that time to make a call to someone instead. I think that’s great advice.

            So, if there’s someone you’ve been meaning to talk to for a while, don’t put it off any longer. Don’t scroll their social media; don’t text them; make an actual phone call. You’ll both be glad you did.