Key points
- 40% struggle to communicate effectively
- Digital tech replacing pen and paper
- Experts warn of cognitive skill decline
ISLAMABAD: For millennia, handwriting has been central to human expression, preserving culture, memory, and knowledge. But in the digital-first world of Generation Z, keyboards and touchscreens are rapidly replacing pen and paper.
Research now shows that nearly 40% of Gen Z struggles with handwriting — a startling shift that experts warn could weaken cognitive development and reshape how we communicate in the future.
The new trend is gradually emerging, especially among Generation Z—those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s. This generation appears to be losing a vital skill that has been with us for around 5,500 years.
Recent research from the University of Stavanger reveals that about 40% of Generation Z are struggling with handwriting. This development raises important questions about how our ability to communicate effectively is evolving.
Has Generation Z forgotten how to write by hand?
Digital technology has transformed the way we communicate, making handwriting increasingly rare. From instant messaging apps to social media platforms, young people favour quick exchanges and abbreviations.
Keyboards and touchscreens have largely replaced pen and paper in everyday life. This shift is so significant that some experts believe Generation Z may be the first to not master handwriting at a functional level.
Yet handwriting remains crucial for cognitive development. It supports skills such as memory and comprehension by engaging the brain differently compared to typing. This ability, which has played a central role in human civilisation, now faces threats from the ubiquity of digital devices.
Implications for global communication
Studies and academic testimonies, reported by the Turkish newspaper Türkiye Today, show that Generation Z has become so accustomed to keyboards that they feel “bewildered” when required to write by hand. Like any skill that declines through lack of use, students’ handwriting has deteriorated noticeably, often appearing messy and hard to read.
Professor Nedret Kiliceri points out that even university students lack basic handwriting knowledge. According to her, students avoid writing long sentences and coherent paragraphs, favouring isolated sentences instead. Some arrive at university without even carrying a pen, relying entirely on keyboards. She attributes this trend to the influence of social media.
Loss of handwriting
Moreover, the loss of handwriting affects more than just letter-writing or postcards. It profoundly shapes how Generation Z perceives and interprets the world.
Handwriting is often seen as a more thoughtful and personal form of communication, in contrast to the quick and impulsive nature of digital text messages.
Ultimately, the question remains: how will Generation Z and future generations strike a balance between the digital realm and the time-honoured skills that have shaped society? The answers to this will largely determine how we communicate and understand the world going forward.
