We’re ‘me-maxxing’ so much, we’re saying 30% fewer words a day than we did 20 years ago
From Tom Wolfe's "Me" decade of the 1970s, to the convenience economy of the 2020s, we're "me-maxxing" our time, and we're talking less as a result.
In the "Me" decade of the 1970s, Americans turned inward to focus on personal fulfillment, leading to a retreat from public life. This cultural shift has continued into the modern era, embracing the convenience economy. According to a new study, over the past 14 years, the average person now speaks approximately 338 fewer words per day than they did in 2005, resulting in a nearly 30% decrease.
Younger adults experienced a 44% larger decline in daily spoken words compared to older participants. The researchers attribute this decline to the convenience economy, which has prioritized personal time and minimized human interaction by enabling tasks like ordering food and groceries through apps and using self-checkout. This shift has led to a decrease in casual, in-person social interactions, contributing to the ongoing loneliness epidemic.
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