An increasingly common narrative has emerged with those who want to ban youth from possessing a phone until the age of 16, suggesting that the rise of phones, text-based communication, and digital interactions has led to a decline in in-person social skills in our youth. The argument – younger generations, growing up in a world of emojis and instant messaging, are missing out on the nuances of face-to-face conversations. But does this claim hold up to evidence based scrutiny?
The short answer is no, with a caveat, as you will read. In fact, research suggests that digital communication is not replacing in-person interactions, but rather supplementing and enhancing them in novel ways.
1. Digital Communication Expands, Not Replaces, Social Interactions
A key flaw in the argument that digital communications are eroding in-person social skills, is the assumption that digital communication directly substitutes in-person interactions. In reality, technology has provided more opportunities for socialization. Studies have shown that young people who engage in frequent online communication also tend to have robust in-person social lives. Platforms like social media, texting, and video calls allow individuals to maintain and strengthen their relationships across distances, something that was far more challenging before these tools existed.
Supporting this idea, a study published in “Perspectives on Psychological Science” suggests that digital communication enhances sociability, particularly in scenarios where deep offline engagement is otherwise difficult to attain. It can also complement offline engagement, demonstrating that the method of digital communication utilized plays a critical role in avoiding issues posed by either overuse or underuse. (1)
In this 2025 released study titled, “Life In Media Survey” (2) researchers found:
“Contrary to the position that smartphone use is associated with fewer in-person meetups with friends, on average, smartphone owners spend nearly three days a week in-person with a friend(s), while kids with no smartphone spend closer to two days a week in-person with friends”
The only notable exception in the research was during the COVID lockdown when youth, teens, and adults were unable to meet in person. However, as Dr. Pamela Rutledge explained, while some interpersonal skills did not develop during this time, it was due to isolation and not technology.
2. The Nuance of Digital Communication
While it’s easy to dismiss digital interactions as lacking depth, the reality is that today’s youth have adapted to expressing themselves in new and sophisticated ways that are often not fully understood by parents, caregivers, and educators. Emojis, GIFs, memes, and punctuation choices have evolved into nuanced forms of communication that convey emotion, sarcasm, and emphasis in ways similar to in-person cues. Researchers studying digital linguistics note that younger generations have created the art of “digital body language.” (3)
Additionally, figures from Ofcom’s “Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report 2023” suggest that 77% of online communication platform users agreed that digital communication tools had helped them maintain relationships. (4) This data supports the notion that digital interactions are fostering social connections rather than diminishing them.
3. Research Does Not Support a Decline in Social Skills
Contrary to the claim that digital interactions have eroded social skills, studies indicate that young people today are just as socially competent, if not more so, than previous generations. A 2020 study published study titled, “Kids These Days: Are Face-to-Face Social Skills among American Children Declining?” (5) researchers found no significant decline in young people’s ability to navigate social situations due to technology.
“The authors find no evidence that teachers or parents rate children’s face-to-face social skills as poorer among more recent cohorts, even when accounting for family characteristics, screen time use, and other factors. In addition, within cohorts, children with heavy exposure to screens exhibit similar social skills trajectories compared to children with little exposure to screens.”
However, the same research did find that:
“There is a notable exception—social skills are lower for children who access online gaming and social networking many times a day. Overall, however, the results represent a challenge to the dominant narrative that social skills are declining due to technological change.”
Further reinforcing this point, a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that digital communication can help individuals build and maintain social connections, reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation. (6)
As we have been saying for years, it’s all about balance in how youth and teens are using technology!
4. Video Calls and Voice Messages Maintain Face-to-Face Communication
One of the strongest rebuttals to the myth of declining social skills is the rise of video communication. Apps like Zoom, FaceTime, and Discord provide users with real-time face-to-face interaction, helping them develop and maintain strong interpersonal connections. Additionally, voice messaging has surged in popularity, offering a middle ground between texting and phone calls, allowing for tonal expression and conversational flow.
5. Social Anxiety and Digital Spaces
Some critics argue that reliance on digital communication may contribute to social anxiety. However, for many individuals, especially those who struggle with in-person interactions, something we called being socially awkward back in our school days, digital platforms provide a safe space to build confidence in communication. Many young people use online interactions as a stepping stone to in-person relationships, helping them develop comfort in social settings. Here’s the reality for today’s youth and teens, digital communication allows for asynchronous engagement, which can reduce social pressure and facilitate thoughtful face-to-face interactions. This approach enables more personalized and tailored communication, fostering stronger connections over time.
However, there is a concern that parents and caregivers should be alive to known as the “Disinhibition Effect”
The “online disinhibition effect” refers to the phenomenon where individuals exhibit behaviours online that they might restrain from in face-to-face interactions. This effect manifests in two forms: “benign disinhibition,” which involves sharing personal information or emotions more openly, and “toxic disinhibition,” characterized by inappropriate or harmful behaviours such as cyberbullying or aggression. The absence of immediate social consequences in online spaces allows individuals, particularly teens, to express themselves in ways they might not in person, sometimes leading to both positive and negative outcomes. (7)
A teen who frequently engages in online debates or disagreements on social media may feel emboldened by the lack of real-time feedback. Behind a screen, they can be more direct, say things bluntly, block people, or leave conversations without experiencing the discomfort of direct confrontation. However, when faced with a disagreement in person, they may struggle with emotional regulation, find it difficult to read social cues, or avoid confrontation altogether because they are unaccustomed to navigating face-to-face conflict. This shift in communication habits can impact their ability to handle interpersonal challenges in offline interactions.
This disinhibition effect highlights the need for balance. While online spaces provide a platform for self-expression, they should not become a substitute for developing essential real-world communication skills. Ensuring that teens engage in meaningful offline interactions alongside their digital interactions is crucial for fostering emotional intelligence, conflict resolution abilities, and overall social competence.
Rather than seeing digital communication as a threat to social skills, we should recognize that it has created a hybrid model of interaction. Today’s youth are not only maintaining face-to-face conversations but also mastering an expanded digital language. Instead of lamenting the changes, we should acknowledge that human communication is evolving, just as it has throughout history with the introduction of letters, telephones, and emails.
The claim that digital communication is eroding in-person social skills among youth and teens does not hold up under scrutiny with the caveat surrounding the disinhibition effect. While the fear that smartphones and text-based interactions are replacing face-to-face conversations is widespread, the evidence suggests otherwise. Research consistently demonstrates that digital communication expands and supplements social interactions rather than replacing them. Young people who engage in frequent online conversations often maintain strong in-person connections, with data showing that smartphone users meet with friends just as much, if not more, than those without one.
The evolving nature of digital communication has introduced new ways for youth to express themselves, forming a sophisticated “digital body language” that many adults may not fully appreciate. Emojis, GIFs, and memes are not mere distractions; they serve as nuanced emotional cues that mirror in-person interactions. Video calls and voice messaging further counter the argument that digital communication is distancing youth from real-world connections, as these tools actively preserve the face-to-face element of conversation.
It is also important to recognize that technology can play a positive role in fostering social confidence. For those who experience social anxiety, digital platforms provide an entry point to meaningful relationships, allowing gradual exposure to social interactions in a way that feels safer and more manageable. Rather than creating an either-or scenario where digital and in-person communication are in conflict, today’s youth are demonstrating that both forms of interaction can coexist in a balanced way.
Ultimately, the key takeaway is that communication is evolving, not deteriorating. Just as letters, telephones, and emails once revolutionized the way humans connect, digital communication is simply the next stage in this ongoing progression. Instead of fearing change, we should focus on helping youth develop a healthy balance between their online and offline interactions, because in the end, it’s not about the medium of communication but the quality of connections they foster.
The bottom line? Digital communication is not eroding social skills, it’s transforming them. And just like every technological shift before it, society, especially our kids, is adapting and thriving in this new social landscape.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
1/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691617746509
2/ https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/departments/journalism/documents/lims2025/lims2025.pdf
3/ https://www.speexx.com/speexx-blog/digital-body-language-how-it-works/
6/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7843959/
7/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11612148/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
