Publish at February 12 2026 Updated February 12 2026
It's hard not to write about the younger generations without sounding like an old man angry about changing mores. Since ancient times, the older generation has looked down on the younger with a certain condescension, convinced that decay will come from the next generation. Disaster scenarios have been legion, and in the end, humanity is still standing. Imperfect as ever, but there it is.
Nevertheless, we mustn't overlook the fact that some things are lost over time. Ancestral knowledge becomes a relic taken up by the curious, never to return to common usage. Technological advances are largely responsible for this.
Not surprisingly, grooms have become much rarer with the advent of cars, to give just one example. Car mechanics are being transformed as cars evolve into little computers. Digital technology, however, is erasing a very old skill in Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012.
Humanity has mastered the codes of writing for over 5,000 years. Putting stories, facts and other aspects of human life onto paper or other media has been central to the development of civilizations. Long considered the expertise of a certain elite, universal education has enabled the majority of people to write and read adequately. Except that technology is transforming the habits of younger people, whether they like it or not.
This affects reading a little less, since digital technology is still very much based on writing. Nevertheless, with video and audio formats and the decline in attention spans, we sense that some are less patient with text. It's in this context that the famous acronym "TLDR" (Too Long, Didn't Read) was coined.
On the other hand, handwriting skills are clearly disappearing. According to recent studies by the University of Stavanger in Norway, 40% of Generation Z have lost elements of handwriting. They estimate that this could be the first human generation to no longer be able to write functionally.
Indeed, with their main writing medium being touch screens, they are increasingly losing the reflex to write by hand. Even deciphering cursive script has become as complex for them as analyzing hieroglyphics. They seem disconcerted when it's not possible to write using a screen or keyboard. And even for the latter, this generation and the next are less and less at ease with the art of typing.
They are so accustomed to touch technology that the physical keyboard is associated with rarer and often less efficient and faster uses. This could explain the slight increase in typing games, where you have to write with a keyboard as quickly as possible to complete actions. Typing has become more of a recreational challenge than a utility...
The problem is that this loss of handwriting skills by the younger generation does not bode well for the future. Learning to write by hand has important effects on cognition. It develops memory and comprehension, albeit better than keyboard or touch.
In fact, a 2015 study by the University of Stavanger looked at the memorization of terms by various means. Researchers were given a list of words to write down either on paper, by keyboard or on an iPad. The scientists then checked the words memorized by the individuals using each tool, mixing them with other words that were not present. Those using pen and paper retained more than those using other media.
This also has an effect on the way this generation communicates. They seem increasingly uncomfortable putting their ideas into paragraphs, more accustomed to sending their messages sentence by sentence. They prefer to shorten thoughts so that they appear in no more than 10 words each time. Which doesn't leave much room for complex concepts and extensive texts. It's no wonder that, with the networks, misinformation is shared well: it's often short and unvarnished, and therefore more restrained than long explanations to break down arguments.
Will handwriting become a relic? It's hard to say at present, but it seems there's work to be done to re-educate Generation Z and beyond to express themselves at greater length in writing, whatever the medium.
Illustration: Shutterstock - 2638687879
References:
Gen Z loses a skill we've had for 5500 years: 40% lose communication skills - https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2058395/la-gen-z-perd-une-competence-que-nous-possedons-depuis-5500-ans-40-perdent-la-maitrise-de-la-communication.htm
Handwriting versus keyboard writing: Effect on word recall - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282590558_Handwriting_versus_keyboard_writing_Effect_on_word_recall#read
The Handwriting Crisis: Why Generation Z is Losing This Timeless Skill - https://medium.com/no-time/the-handwriting-crisis-why-generation-z-is-losing-this-timeless-skill-6e230a7073c2
Why bother teaching cursive handwriting? - https://cursus.edu/fr/10309/pourquoi-sacharner-a-enseigner-lecriture-cursive
Generation Z struggles with lost skill of writing - https://www.turkiyetoday.com/lifestyle/generation-z-struggles-with-lost-skill-of-writing-81028?s=1
Generation Z is losing a skill we've had for 5,500 years: 40% are losing the ability to communicate effectively. - https://evidencenetwork.ca/generation-z-is-losing-a-skill-weve-had-for-5500-years-40-are-losing-the-ability-to-communicate-effectively/
Social media causes Gen Z to adapt to touchscreens, keyboard skills decline - https://baylorlariat.com/2024/09/11/social-media-causes-gen-z-to-adapt-to-touchscreens-keyboard-skills-decline/
Gen Z-ers Are Computer Whizzes. Just Don't Ask Them to Type. - https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/gen-z-typing-computers-keyboards-c83d15f0
Gen Z never learned cursive. The effects of this are more widespread than you think - https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/21/23363871/cursive-writing-practice-genz-never-learned-cursive/
Is handwriting under threat? - https://cursus.edu/fr/8347/lecriture-manuscrite-est-elle-menacee
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