People are speaking less as texting and apps take over

A meta-analysis of 22 studies covering 2,000+ participants found average daily speech dropped from 16,632 words in 2005 to 11,900 by 2019—a loss of roughly 338 words per year. The trend accelerated among under-25s, shedding 451 words annually. Text messaging, app-based ordering, and online interaction have displaced face-to-face conversation as primary modes of coordination and transaction.