Gen Z is losing the ability to write by hand; handwriting plays a key role in cognitive development
RHODA WILSON
For 5,500 years, handwriting has been central to human communication. But new research suggests Generation Z may be the first to lose it.
A University of Stavanger study reports that about 40 per cent of young people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s struggle to communicate effectively by hand.
Experts warn this isn’t trivial: handwriting is linked to memory, comprehension and the ability to form coherent arguments.
Generation Z Is Losing A Skill We’ve Had For 5,500 Years: 40% Are Losing The Ability To Communicate Effectively
By Rosalia Neve, as published by Evidence Network on 27 September 2025
For thousands of years, writing has been one of the fundamental pillars of human communication, transmitting knowledge, stories and cultures down the ages. However, a new trend is gradually emerging, particularly among Generation Z. These young people, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, seem to be losing a crucial skill that has been with us for around 5,500 years. According to a study by the University of Stavanger, around 40% of this generation are losing their ability to communicate by handwriting. This phenomenon raises important questions about the evolution of our ability to communicate effectively.
[Note: We were unable to find the study referred to. It is also mentioned in an article by Indian Defence Review titled ‘Gen Z Is Losing a 5,500-Year-Old Skill That Shaped Civilization – 40% Are Losing Mastery of Communication’, along with other studies.]
Generation Z No Longer Knows How To Write By Hand?
Digital technology has gradually transformed the way we communicate, making handwriting less and less common. From instant messaging platforms to social networks, young people prefer quick exchanges and abbreviations. The keyboard and touch screen have replaced pen and paper in many aspects of daily life. This change is so profound that some experts believe that Generation Z could be the first generation not to master handwriting at a functional level.
Yet handwriting plays a key role in cognitive development. It is linked to skills such as memory and comprehension, because it engages the brain in a different way to typing on a keyboard. This skill, which has shaped human civilisation, is now under threat from the ubiquity of digital technology.
The Implications For Global Communication
According to various studies and the testimonies of professors from several universities, reported by the Turkish newspaper Türkiye Today [last year], young people from Generation Z have so integrated the use of keyboards into their daily lives that they find themselves “bewildered” when they have to revert to handwriting. As with any skill that erodes over time through lack of practice, students are now showing a marked deterioration in their handwriting, which often appears disorganised and difficult to read.
Professor Nedret Kiliceri explained that even university students lack knowledge of the basic rules of handwriting. According to her, students avoid long sentences and no longer write coherent paragraphs. They prefer isolated sentences rather than paragraphs that group together sentences linked by meaning. Students even come to university without pens and use keyboards for everything. The professor sees this as an influence of social media.
What’s more, the loss of handwriting doesn’t just affect the ability to write a letter or a postcard. It has a profound impact on the way Generation Z perceives and interprets the world. Handwriting is often associated with a more thoughtful and personal form of communication, in contrast to the often impulsive nature of digital texts.
Ultimately, the question remains: how will Generation Z, and future generations, balance the digital world with the age-old skills that have shaped our society? The answers to this question will largely determine how we communicate and understand the world in the future.
Featured image taken from ‘Now phone-addicted Gen-Z are losing the ability to use computer keyboards, experts fear’, Daily Mail, 27 August 2024
This article (Gen Z is losing the ability to write by hand; handwriting plays a key role in cognitive development) was created and published by The Expose and is republished here under “Fair Use” with attribution to the author Rosalia Neve and with intro by Rhoda Wilson
••••
The Liberty Beacon Project is now expanding at a near exponential rate, and for this we are grateful and excited! But we must also be practical. For 7 years we have not asked for any donations, and have built this project with our own funds as we grew. We are now experiencing ever increasing growing pains due to the large number of websites and projects we represent. So we have just installed donation buttons on our websites and ask that you consider this when you visit them. Nothing is too small. We thank you for all your support and your considerations … (TLB)
••••
Comment Policy: As a privately owned web site, we reserve the right to remove comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence, racism, or personal/abusive attacks on other users. This also applies to trolling, the use of more than one alias, or just intentional mischief. Enforcement of this policy is at the discretion of this websites administrators. Repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without prior warning.
••••
Disclaimer: TLB websites contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of “fair use” in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, health, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than “fair use” you must request permission from the copyright owner.
••••
Disclaimer: The information and opinions shared are for informational purposes only including, but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material are not intended as medical advice or instruction. Nothing mentioned is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Liberty Beacon Project.
Leave a Reply