In a generation where digital technology is deeply integrated into our everyday lives, a new concern for younger generations has risen: the analog skills of students across the U.S. are deteriorating at concerning rates. The shift away from analog literacy isn’t about a lack of intelligence, but rather that the world has simply stopped requiring the skill for daily survival. 

An example of this is the ability to read analog clocks. For many teens who never had to learn how to read these apparently ancient devices,  the sight of two sticks rotating at different speeds feels less like timekeeping and more like a riddle from “Alice in Wonderland.”

A February 2026 study published by PubMed Central (PMC) used the “Clock Drawing Test (CDT)” to investigate generational differences. The results displayed that 28.6% of college students failed to achieve a perfect score. Common errors included poor spatial arrangement of numbers and the inability to correctly place the hands. In some cases, students took instructions literally, drawing human hands pointing to numbers rather than the geometric clock hands. 

An additional concern is the decrease in reading comprehension skills. PMC research comparing digital and print reading found that under time pressure, digital readers scored a comprehension mean of 50%, while print readers scored significantly higher, at 63.64%. 

The study suggests that students are losing the habit of deep, sustained engagement with complex text due to the constant exposure to digital media and habits: skimming and multitasking. 

Similarly, digitalization has also replaced handwritten notes, where students type notes, as it appears more efficient. However, this results in weaker overall test performance and retention of information,  because writing by hand engages the brain in a more active way, improving memory recall and longer-lasting recognition. While typing is undeniably faster, it lacks the mental “workout” that comes with pen and paper. As Audrey van der Meer, a psychologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, explains, “writing by hand is a neurobiologically richer process.” It forces the brain’s visual and motor areas to “sync up”, helping our brains store and process new information more effectively. 

Along with digitalization, over-reliance on AI has also increased, potentially hindering individuals’ ability to problem-solve and innovate.  Our US psychologist, Dr. Johnson, expressed that “it [analog literacy skills] enables students to not just understand and receive, but use it to evaluate and then create or innovate.” As AI takes over more research and mathematical skills, students may lose opportunities to evaluate, innovate, and think independently.

Nowadays, digitalization is inevitable, but that does not mean analog literacy must disappear. Instead of allowing these skills to fade, educational environments should aim to preserve and integrate them alongside modern technology. By becoming aware of the skills we are losing, we can take small but meaningful steps to practice them in our daily lives, ensuring that future generations are not only digitally literate but also cognitively adaptable and well-rounded.