Generation Tongue-Tied
Why teens are struggling to speak up
Today’s teenagers are more digitally connected than any previous generation, yet many are struggling with the face-to-face communication skills essential for academic success, career readiness, and personal wellbeing. This report explores how growing up online is shaping confidence, conversation skills, and future opportunities – and why strengthening communication skills is becoming even more critical in the age of AI.
Read the report to learn:
- How digital-first communication is affecting teenagers’ confidence in real-world conversations
- Why parents and educators see communication skills as increasingly important for future career success
- The impact of communication confidence on academic performance, wellbeing, and employability
- How schools can actively develop speaking, listening, and collaboration skills for the AI era
The future belongs not to those who can code or calculate in isolation, but to those who can connect, convince and collaborate in person.
93 %
of teens are more confident via digital communication
8 %
of teens are more confident via face-to-face communication
25 %
frequently experience social anxiety
As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, a counterintuitive truth emerges. Human communication skills are becoming more valuable, not less. Parents and teenagers alike recognise this shift, understanding that AI amplifies rather than replaces the need for human connection.
