We stopped talking, and nobody noticed

Daily spoken word counts have dropped by 28% over the last 15 years, falling from approximately 16,000 to 12,700 words per person. This decline stems from an increasing reliance on digital tools—such as self-checkout machines, food delivery apps, and GPS—which systematically remove opportunities for casual human interaction. While digital communication offers efficiency, it contributes to a degradation of offline social skills, as evidenced by a growing prevalence of "phone call anxiety" and a widespread preference for text-based messaging. Social interaction functions as a skill that requires regular practice; neglecting these small, daily conversations risks eroding the ability to engage in meaningful face-to-face communication. Ultimately, the shift toward digital-first interactions threatens to diminish the uniquely human experience of connecting through shared emotions, spontaneous dialogue, and personal perspectives.