The ‘Gen Z stare’ — and the decline of saying things out loud

A 2024 study found that people in the United States speak an average of 7,000 words per day, down from 10,000 words per day in 2010, according to researchers at the University of Arizona. Psychologists including Dr. James Pennebaker have studied changes in verbal communication patterns and noted correlations between reduced speech frequency and certain cognitive outcomes. The decline has been attributed to increased text-based communication and social media use among younger demographics. Specific mechanisms and long-term effects on brain development remain subjects of ongoing research.

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