Personal development, education and success in the profession rely on communication abilities. But these days, a plethora of young people cannot express themselves accurately. The change in technology, living style and social things has altered the way communication occurs. As much as these changes are convenient, they bring challenges. Knowledge of the major causes of this struggle will enable parents, teachers and youths to go through the lapses and develop better and more powerful communication skills.
Less Person-to-Person Interaction
The modernity of life provides fewer opportunities to have face-to-face talks. Online studies, distance work, and entertainment reduce contact. In-person communication provides the skills of body language, eye contact, and emotional perception. Unless they are practised on a regular basis, young people find it difficult to read the social cues or communicate their ideas. This non-exposure renders real-life discussions unfamiliar and difficult.
Absence of Active Listening Skills
Listening is important in good communication as much as speaking. Active listening is an aspect that is very difficult for many youths because of the distracting devices. Conversing with many things in mind minimises concentration and cognition. When one does not listen well, then the responses are uncertain or unrelated. This undermines the quality of conversation and leads to misunderstandings in personal and academic life.
Decline in Reading Habits
Language development largely depends on reading. Fewer young people read books on a regular basis, opting to read short online content instead. Poor reading inputs have an influence on grammar, sentence structures, and comprehensibility. It is not easy to articulate ideas without proper reading habits. This affects oratory and literary performance both in school and in the workplace.
Educational Pressure
Academic pressure tends to put more emphasis on performance rather than on communication. Exams and grades do not offer much room to discuss and be creative. Students can pass the test by memorising material as opposed to knowing how to articulate concepts.
Absence of Communication Training
A lot of schools are not concentrated on communication. The courses, such as public speaking, debate or interpersonal communication, are usually optional or absent. Unless there is organised mentoring, youth are not taught to articulate themselves or to negotiate effectively. This disparity is apparent in tertiary education and the workplace.
Constant Distractions
Alerts, notifications, and multitasking minimise attention in conversations. Youths tend to split their attention between the conversation and the electronics. This behaviour impairs focus and the quality of response. In the long run, it is not easy to remain active in a longer conversation which impacts clarity, comprehension and significant communication with others.
Poor Expression of Emotions
Most of the youths find it difficult to communicate their feelings. They can use emojis or indirect messages rather than using direct words. This inhibits emotional language and cognition. When anyone shows lack of expressions of feelings, it will result in lack of poor interpersonal relations and comprehension.
Absence of On-the-Job Experience
Skills in communication can be developed by practical experiences, which can be in the form of part-time jobs, group activities or community work. Most youths lack these opportunities in the present times. They feel denied professional and social interaction, and therefore, when they have to take up adult responsibilities, they find it more cumbersome.
Social Media Culture influence
Social media encourages immediate response as opposed to a meaningful dialogue. Discussions on the internet do not always have depth and respect. This culture does not promote positive communication and tolerance. Young individuals are unlikely to have a balanced conversation in real life since they are accustomed to short, one-sided communication, rather than substantive communication.
Poor Family communication
Hectic lives minimise home conversations. Socialisation and eating are substituted with personal screen time. The family discussion teaches the children to be expressive, to listen, and to be confident. On this basis, young people enter the social and professional field with a poor communication culture and little experience in conversations.
