The art form of public speech has been slowly fading from the modern world. As technology further secludes people from public speech, they are resorting to silence.
Public speaking is defined as “the art of effective oral communication with an audience,” according to Merriam-Webster. Society has grown so accustomed to small talk that we have collectively forgotten the importance of public speaking, sparking a silent crisis as students no longer seek to develop this skill set.
Even though people do talk with one another on a day-to-day basis, this isn’t equivalent to public speaking, nor is it enough to strengthen the skills behind it. According to a study on students’ self-confidence in public speaking, skills in public speaking truly grow and become perfected through dedicated practice.
Many students, however, don’t pursue public speaking skills. In fact, 74% of Generation Z have a fear of public speaking, according to a study about taking a public speaking course to conquer the fear, with factors such as technology, time, and skills contributing to this growing number.
According to a study on changing communication patterns, texting and social media have already changed human communication patterns, but they also lower speaking skills, which are essential in our lives. Given the prominence and reliance on technological advances in communication, many are turning away from speaking skills.
Furthermore, most students actually feel afraid due to a lack of practice, poor mastery of the material, and limited vocabulary, according to a study on students’ self-confidence in public speaking. Because of this, students are stuck in a paradox: while they fear public speaking, their main method of improvement is to face it head-on, forcing them to use the very thing they fear.
This only adds to the discouragement of students who also struggle with time management in a time when a student’s attention itself is a finite resource. Students focused on college might instead pursue sports, music, and the arts, skills that don’t intrinsically cover a fear they likely have.
Because the vast majority do not develop speaking skills, society is left unprepared for public speaking, lacking practice, fluency, and the ability to convey a clear message. Instead of properly conveying a message, many fail simply because of how they deliver their message.
Some might even doubt the validity of their arguments simply because they are unsure of their ability to get their point across, even if their points are valid.
Regardless of why they don’t express their opinions, silence isn’t the right answer.
Many people, unsure of how to argue for their ideas, choose to remain silent. According to the National Library of Medicine, once a group settles on an idea as true, the minority is less likely to oppose it. However, this creates a dominant narrative, creating a spiral of silence, a snowball gaining more and more power, crushing all beneath it.
Despite this, speaking skills can push one against silence. They can help someone push back against the spiral of silence, speaking their mind even if it goes against the dominant narrative. It gives them the foundation they need to spot issues and express their critiques effectively.
Especially in our current political climate, speaking skills are more important than ever. Even if we aren’t directly speaking out, we can see through the smokescreens and distractions others use and properly evaluate their true message.
On Jan. 15, 2026, during a press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent’s fatal shooting of Renee Good. Even though Leavitt was asked whether or not ICE is doing everything correctly, she described the reporter as a “left-wing hack” posing in the room as a reporter.
We can see how even in our highest form of government, smokescreens and distractions are used to answer real questions. While many have debated over Leavitt’s words, many seem to have failed to read between the lines, missing a crucial detail.
Even while it seemed like she answered, Leavitt didn’t answer the question.
The political spheres use personal insults, not to criticize or critique, but to distract audiences from true contentions. People are no longer refuting the idea; they attack the person behind it.
Speaking skills are the foundation for critique, allowing students to spot flaws in these arguments and look past distractions and nonsensical insults. In a system where information, propaganda, truth, and lies have become so intertwined, it is crucial to have the skills to look behind the fog and mirrors.
Nevertheless, it is not too late. Now more than ever, students, despite their busy schedules, need to properly develop their speaking skills.
If people can find the time to learn how to ride a bike, how to bake, how to sew, they should also find the opportunity to learn how to persuade and master the ability to stand up for their beliefs and argue their point of view.
Students need to develop speech skills, especially in a time of so many conflicting viewpoints on real-world policies, because staying silent is to repress their opinions, their ideas, and their very selves. To stay silent is to die.
