In a very interesting article with ‘Time’ magazine Rachel Konrad and Matt Abrahams (Stanford Graduate School of Business) discuss the “diminishing writing and speaking skills” amongst students and young people at large.
This piece is an excellent opportunity to enrich an on-going discussion on one of the most crucial issues in contemporary communication between individuals and amongst people and larger audiences – the ability to effectively communicate in an organised / structured way serving a purpose.
The authors argued: “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.”[1]
They added: “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.”[2]
A series of developments, the pandemic, the lockdowns, the explosion of social media and the rapid advancement of AI put young people at risk of losing “the communication skills that connect us.”
They continue citing their concern over the extensive use of AI amongst students aged 14-22 (in the US) for schoolwork, noting that chatbots offer immediate resolutions not only to coursework but life’s questions and challenges (health issues, personal problems, etc.).
Are students losing mental stamina or the enthusiasm to bond with others? Will the “loneliness epidemic” stretch into a “solitary century”?[3]
The real value of the story is in the solutions they suggest for both students and teachers. Click here for more.
Photo source: Cottonbro Studio, pexels.com
[1] Rachel, K. & Abrahams, M. “Why Young People are Struggling to Communicate”. TIME magazine, December 9, 2025. Available at: https://time.com/7339501/young-people-struggling-to-communicate/
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023”. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. Cited by the authors. Available here: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
