We don’t talk anymore: Human interaction is on the decline
Apr 28, 2026, 6:00 AM
People use their mobile phones at a bus stop in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Wall Street Journal reports that in 2019, we talked 28% less than we did in 2005. Now that we’re post-pandemic, it’s likely much less.
Online, we can do almost anything from grocery shopping to getting a college degree. But this could be contributing to mental decline.
“On a day-to-day basis, you need to focus on things that promote positive emotion, healthy engagement, and productive relationships.” said Matt Checketts, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. “All of those indicators of well-being require interaction.”
Checketts also said that interaction promotes learning. When we interact with others, our capacities for tolerance, problem solving, and empathy grow. When we limit our contact from others, getting our information and interactions online, we are subject to algorithms and echo chambers.
“Mental health requires that a person encounters a situation and then navigates it to continue to maintain mental health.” said Checketts.
In a study by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Arizona, researchers concluded that we are steadily speaking less annually. Each year, our word count has been dropping by 300 words per day.
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