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Millennials Lose Social Skills as Tech Dominates Communication
18 Aug
Summary
- Younger generations rely on texting and emojis, struggle with in-person talks
- Lack of rote learning may lead to smaller hippocampus, higher dementia risk
- Proper sleep, natural light exposure, and social interactions key for brain health
According to experts, the younger generation's heavy reliance on mobile technology and digital communication is having a detrimental impact on their social skills and brain health. As of 2025, many young people seen in clinics are increasingly socially anxious, having developed their communication skills primarily through texting and emojis rather than face-to-face interactions.
This shift in communication patterns is particularly concerning, as loneliness is one of the biggest risk factors for dementia in later life. Furthermore, the lack of rote learning, such as spelling tests and times tables, which was common for those born in the 1960s, is putting younger generations at a disadvantage. The generation raised on rote learning experienced "hippocampus hypertrophy," providing them with a "superhuman" advantage in brain development that the current youth do not possess.
Without this crucial brain training, experts warn that as the hippocampus starts to shrink with age, it will be doing so from a smaller starting size, potentially leading to a "long-term tsunami of dementia-type diagnosis" in the future. To protect brain health, experts recommend prioritizing natural sleep patterns, exposure to natural light, and regular social interactions, which can help boost mitochondrial function and energy production.
