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Researchers say we’re talking less than ever

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Researchers say we’re talking less than ever
Published: April 25, 2026 at 15:03 | Source: theverge.com
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Science Close Science Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Science News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech Researchers say we’re talking less than ever It’s not just small talk, it’s all talk that’s dying. It’s not just small talk, it’s all talk that’s dying. by Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Weekend Editor Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien Apr 25, 2026, 3:03 PM UTC Link Share Gift Nobody is talking. Image: Metrograph Pictures Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Arizona say that between 2005 and 2019, the number of words we speak out loud to another human being fell by nearly 28 percent . And that has likely only gotten worse following the pandemic. The researchers actually counted the number of words we were speaking on average (16,632 in 2005). They looked at data from 22 studies in which over 2,000 people recorded audio of their daily lives. Over time, as ordering through apps became the norm, texting increased, and our lives became increasingly online, they found that number had dropped dramatically. By 2019, we were only speaking about 11,900 words per day. As the Wall Street Journal notes, there is concern about the psychological effects of reduced human interaction. And it’s not just about the loneliness epidemic, or the risks of falling down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole, people are also losing basic conversational skills, according to the authors of the study, like how to not interrupt people. The researchers did find that younger people were more susceptible, but only slightly. People under 25 spoke 451 words fewer a day per year, while those over 25 lost 314 words a day. On average, the number of words people spoke daily fell by 338 per year. If that trend kept up in the ensuing years, we could be speaking fewer than 10,000 words per day now. Though alarming, Valerie Fridland, a linguistics professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, told the Wall Street Journal there’s no need to panic just yet. Small changes could help reverse things, like parents talking to their babies more, getting a landline , and maybe putting the smartphone down for a bit during the day. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Weekend Editor Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News Science Close Science Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Science Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech Most Popular Most Popular Trump fires the entire National Science Board The US gets the worst phones Alex Jones has uncovered another massive conspiracy 360-degree cameras have a new superpower THE PEOPLE DO NOT YEARN FOR AUTOMATION Video The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Advertiser Content From This is the title for the native ad
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  • Follow Follow See All Tech Researchers say we’re talking less than ever It’s not just small talk, it’s all talk that’s dying.
Detailed Coverage

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Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency considerations are increasingly important in the context of 'Researchers say we’re talking less than ever'. The industry is moving towards more sustainable practices and green technologies to address climate change and environmental concerns.

Education and skill development play crucial roles in the adoption and advancement of technologies discussed in 'Researchers say we’re talking less than ever'. The need for specialized talent and continuous learning programs highlights the importance of human capital in technological progress.
Article Details
Published: April 25, 2026 at 15:03
Source: theverge.com
Original link: https://www.theverge.com/science/918753/researchers-talking-less
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