WASHINGTON: People are speaking significantly less to one another than they did a decade ago, a trend researchers say may have implications for social connection and mental health, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The shift reflects broader changes in daily life, where texting, online services and digital devices are increasingly replacing face-to-face interaction.
Simple, everyday exchanges — chatting with neighbours, speaking to a barista or calling family members — are becoming less frequent, with many such interactions now taking place through apps or text messages.
Researchers from the University of Arizona and the University of Missouri–Kansas City found that the number of words people speak daily has declined sharply over time. Analysing data from 22 studies involving around 2,200 participants aged between 10 and 94, the researchers recorded a drop from about 15,900 spoken words per day in 2007 to around 12,700 in 2019 — a decline of roughly 300 words a day.
On an annual basis, this amounts to more than 120,000 fewer spoken words per person, the study noted. The decline was observed across age groups, including older adults, suggesting that the trend cannot be explained by technology use alone.
Psychology professor Matthias Mehl said the findings point to a broader shift in lifestyles. “We’ve lost many small, incidental conversations — asking for directions, chatting with a neighbour, or speaking to a cashier,” he said.
Experts say spoken interaction plays an important role in emotional and physical well-being. Reduced conversation may be linked to rising loneliness, a concern previously highlighted by former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
According to the researchers, everyday conversations can help lower stress levels, reduce blood pressure and protect against depression and anxiety. Assistant professor Valeria Pfeifer noted that even a single meaningful conversation a day can have positive effects on mental health.
While some spoken communication has shifted to digital platforms — including messaging apps and even AI chatbots — researchers caution that such substitutes may not fully replicate the benefits of face-to-face interaction. They emphasised the need for further research to understand the long-term social and health impacts of declining verbal communication.
