Some social skills are disappearing faster than free WiFi at a coffee shop. People still exist, yes, but that basic human interaction? Yeah… that’s optional now. Somewhere between smartphones, instant replies, and becoming way too comfortable avoiding eye contact, a lot of basic social skills packed their bags quietly and just left the chat.
And we are now living in a world where saying “hello” feels intimate and calling someone is basically considered a marriage proposal. If you’ve ever looked around you and thought, “Wow, people used to behave better than this,” you’re not completely wrong. These social skills that are becoming extinct – just look around.
Making Real Eye Contact
Remember the time when people used to actually look at each other while talking? Yeah, wild times. Now, holding eye contact for a couple of seconds is often perceived as aggressive, flirting, or threatening; sometimes all three. We have replaced genuine eye contact with a “I’m-looking-at-everywhere-but-you” shuffle where we pretend to be focusing on something else just to avoid acknowledging that we are human for a second.
The purpose of looking directly at someone was to convey trust, confidence, and that we were paying attention. Now, people are looking at their phones or shoes, or seem to be more interested in where the pigeons and birds are flying.
Giving Someone Your Full Attention
It sounds very basic and easy to do, but giving someone your full attention has become almost mythical. Now, during conversations, people check their phones, scroll social media, or drift off into 50 other mental “tabs,” all at once. Even during dates, dinners, or important discussions, the phone is basically the third wheel.
Being fully present, say listening, engaging, making someone feel seen, is becoming rare because our brains are overstimulated and chronically distracted. Attention is literally a love language, and we are all losing it one notification at a time.
Starting Conversations with Strangers
People used to be comfortable initiating conversation while waiting for buses, waiting in line, or sitting together in a doctor’s waiting area. These were all areas that used to be great places to gain knowledge and perception.
Now, starting a conversation is seen as a federal offence. Everyone has their earbuds in and their “Do Not Disturb” faces on. And there is an almost universal agreement that engaging in small talk is a threat to an individual’s personal peace and privacy. But honestly? Those tiny, totally random chats used to add a bit of warmth to our daily lives.
Respecting Other People’s Time
Once, being late was considered rude and sort of disrespectful. Now, when you are on time, you are seen as being “weird.” People send text messages with “on my way” while they are still in the shower, and they assume that 5 minutes late means they are “almost there emotionally.”
The practice of cancelling a meeting at the last minute is becoming commonplace; it seems that time management is as fictitious as unicorns or healthy group chats.
Letting Others Finish Their Sentence
There are many people who cannot help interrupting others mid-sentence, as if they get paid per word. Most of the time, they hear only half a sentence and immediately jump in with their own thought, opinion, or unrelated story.
In conversations, there should be a give-and-take where everyone can have their own voice; but, as it stands now, there is a perception of “I am the only host of my podcast” when it comes to conversations. The art of letting someone speak without cutting them off has almost died out; may it rest in peace.
Apologising Without Turning It Into a Debate
Saying “sorry” used to be simple. You messed up, and you just apologized, boom – you are growing. Today? It is all “Sorry if you felt that way” or “Sorry, but actually it was your fault after all.” Apologies now come with disclaimers, footnotes, and emotional loopholes.
People are now less interested in owning mistakes and more invested in protecting their (false) ego. A real apology has become a rare trait.
Disagreeing Politely
It’s becoming more and more difficult for people to have civil discussions with polite disagreements. It used to be simple: “I see your point, but here’s mine.” Now it is basically “Blocked,” “Unfriended,” “You’re the problem with society.” It is becoming harder to share differing opinions and viewpoints, as it is much easier for us to attack each other or sometimes just annihilate them emotionally instead of just… talking.
We’ve become so allergic to conflict that we either avoid it or just explode – which explains half of social media. And it will only continue to grow worse.
Keeping Private Things… Private
Oversharing your life story has become the norm. People will tell you everything about themselves, including their medical history, trauma, break-up history, and childhood trauma, within the first 10 minutes of a first meet-up. They do not understand boundaries at all.
Nobody believes that mystery is a thing anymore – everyone has to overshare to be “relatable” to someone else, even if that means telling the world everything except the PIN to their ATM card. The skill of knowing what not to say is quietly dying (or is dead already). And worst yet? We can all see it – we’re living it!
17 Childhood Traditions That Don’t Exist Anymore
A few of those old school traditions were strange, insane, and actually a little bit just right. But between growing up and glowing up, they vanished. These are the childhood traditions we took for granted back in the day — and yes, some of them are due for a revival.
17 Childhood Traditions That Don’t Exist Anymore