These skills are quietly disappearing, one day you’ll need one, and nobody will know what to do. read:
1. Writing in Cursive
Over 20 U.S. states no longer require cursive in schools. Most Gen Z students can barely read cursive, let alone write it. The art of elegant handwriting is fading into history.
2. Reading an Analogue Clock
Many classrooms have replaced wall clocks with digital ones. In surveys, teachers report that 1 in 3 students can't read time on an analogue clock in the US.
3. Using a Physical Map
Paper maps are nearly extinct. Studies show 90% of people rely entirely on GPS for navigation. We've traded our internal sense of direction for a robotic voice saying "Turn left."
4. Memorizing Phone Numbers
A study found 71% of people can't recall even their child's school number. Only 1 in 3 adults knows more than two phone numbers by heart.
5. Mental Math
Calculators killed quick thinking. In schools, the ability to do basic double-digit math mentally is dropping fast. Digital tools are replacing one of humanity's earliest problem-solving skills.
6. Driving Manual Cars
Manual transmissions are disappearing. In 2000, 86% of cars sold were manual now it's under 25%. A whole generation might never learn to shift gears.
7. Sewing & Clothing Repair
More than 77% of people don't know how to stitch on a button. Younger generations prefer to replace rather than repair. The needle and thread are losing their place in modern life.
8. Using Radios
Analog radios once connected the world. Now, less than 5% of new audio devices sold are non-digital. Tuning a radio station by ear is a forgotten ritual.
9. Reading Morse Code
Once vital for soldiers and sailors now, almost obsolete. Even in the military, Morse is no longer standard training. A 200-year-old language of dots and dashes has gone silent.
10. Reading Newspapers
Physical newspapers are vanishing. Over 70% of adults now consume news exclusively online. The morning paper, once a daily habit, is now nostalgia.
11. Writing Letters
The average person sends 0 handwritten letters per year. Emails and DMs have erased a 5000-year-old tradition. Even "love letters" are now typed and edited with emojis.
12. Navigating Without GPS
A study found people using GPS remember 30% fewer route details. Digital navigation weakens our spatial memory, literally reshaping the brain. We've become followers, not explorers.
13. Film Photography
Film sales dropped 97% since digital cameras took over. Few photographers today know how to load or develop a film roll. Capturing moments no longer feels like a craft, just a click.
14. Using a Compass
Most young hikers can't orient a map or find true north. Outdoor instructors report a 60% drop in compass-reading ability in under-30s. Nature hasn't changed, our instincts have.
15. Typing Without Auto-Correct
Before smartphones, people memorized spelling. Now, 1 in 4 young adults admit they can't spell common words unaided. Autocorrect made us fluent but forgetful.
16. Basic Home Repairs
From changing bulbs to unclogging drains. DIY confidence has dropped by nearly 50% since the 1990s. We've replaced problem-solving with service calls.
17. Handwriting in General
A Cambridge study found handwriting speed and legibility are declining. Students type faster than they write but retain less when doing so. We're trading memory for convenience.
18. Using Landline Phones
In 2004, 90% of homes had one.
Today, under 25% do. Future generations may never experience the "hang-up" click.
Which one of these skills do you still have, and which one should we bring back first?
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