“Our brains are being put to sleep”: How technology tools are killing handwriting and hurting learning

n Zs can type fast but struggle to write neatly or even hold a pen for long. Experts say this shift affects more than just handwriting. It changes how we think, remember, and connect with others.

Victoria Sirengo, 27, is a counselling psychologist who still enjoys writing by hand. She remembers the last time she used a pen clearly.
“I used a pen about a week ago to write a chapter of the book I am working on. Whenever I use a pen, I feel a consistent flow of ideas. My brain stays connected with what I want to put in writing.”

However, she has noticed that with the rise of technology, especially tools like WPS Office and Microsoft Word, handwriting has become rare in her daily life. “Mostly I type my work on a laptop or phone instead of writing it down.”

Victoria’s relationship with writing changed when she joined campus. “I realised most of my assignments had to be typed and submitted digitally. Because of that, I became careless about how I wrote. I stopped paying attention to how I shaped my letters or how neat my handwriting was. In high school, teachers were very strict about handwriting, so I used to write very neatly.”

As typing became easier, she began to lose interest in using a pen. “Eventually, I lost the zeal to write by hand because typing felt more effective,” she said.

But this convenience came at a cost. “I rely a lot on autocorrect. It has made me lazy to think about the correct spelling of words. When typing, autocorrect gives you the right word instantly, so you do not get the chance to think for yourself. Now when I write by hand, I sometimes have to stop and confirm the spelling using my phone. Even simple words that used to come easily, I now struggle to remember.”

Technology has also changed the way she expresses herself.
“I am more confident when I am texting than when I am speaking. When I text, the keyboard gives me suggestions and my brain connects the ideas better. But when I write by hand, I make many mistakes. Sometimes I skip words that are in my mind because I cannot put them down properly.”

Despite these challenges, Victoria has not stopped writing by hand. “Writing helps me connect my thoughts better than typing does.”
Technology has also taught her something unexpected. “I have learned empathy through AI. When I chat with artificial intelligence, the way it listens and responds is sometimes more empathetic than humans. I try to emulate that in how I talk to people.”

But she quickly adds, “Learning empathy from technology should not replace learning it from people. Humanity is fading because technology is taking away the role that people should play. I should have learned empathy from my lecturers or elders, not from a computer.”

I dislike autocorrect

Phoebe Atieno is a 29-year-old teacher and mental health advocate. She also mentors young people and takes part in programmes that support Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Phoebe has always enjoyed writing and learning. “If something stays in my mind for long, especially when I am doing research, you will always find me with a notebook and a pen.”

The last time she wrote by hand was three weeks ago.
She has noticed changes in her own handwriting over time. “Sometimes I scribble so much when I am in a hurry. But when I am settled and there are no distractions, just me, I always write perfectly and it is neat.”

Writing by hand helps her connect with her thoughts. Phoebe prefers to write by hand instead of typing. “I do not like autocorrect. If need be, I use it, but I always try to minimise how often I do. I believe in myself. There are words I have mastered at my fingertips.”

Even though she uses her phone and computer often, she tries to stay mindful about it. “When I am in a matatu, I pay with my phone, then keep it away until I reach my destination,” she says. “That is my quiet time to think and reflect.”

Phoebe also notices how her own way of communicating has changed over the years. “When I visit home, I put my phone away. I want to talk with my grandmother, not just scroll online.” She still enjoys calling her parents instead of sending long texts. “It feels more real when I hear their voices,” she adds.

For Phoebe, handwriting, listening, and speaking directly to people are not old habits. They are part of her daily life. “When I take notes by hand, I listen better and understand more,” she says. “It helps me think deeply, not just copy from the internet.”

A systemic problem

Professor Egara Kabaji, Professor of Language and Literary Communication at Masinde Muliro University, explains that handwriting is an ancient skill, thousands of years old, but it is now fading among modern generations.

He notes that the decline of handwriting begins in the early stages of education, where teachers no longer emphasise penmanship as they once did. “We cannot expect students to write well if we no longer teach them how to write,” the professor says.
He believes that the problem is systemic and rooted in how teachers are trained.

According to Professor Kabaji, the rise of computers, phones, and other digital tools has made handwriting less common. People now spend more time typing than writing by hand. “If we are not practicing handwriting, how can we be good at it?” He poses.

He admits that he now types most of his work directly into the computer, including his novels, and rarely writes by hand except when journaling.

The professor explains that handwriting involves multiple senses, listening, seeing, and physically writing, which helps students retain information better. When students type instead of writing notes by hand, they lose part of that learning process.

“Typing is faster, but it disconnects you from what you are learning,” he says. This reduced physical engagement affects memory, understanding, and mastery of language.

He also observes that spelling and grammar have suffered because of digital tools. “When computers correct our spelling, we stop learning how to spell,” he explains. Young people today rely heavily on autocorrect, and when asked to write by hand, they make many spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Professor Kabaji stresses that the decline in letter writing has also weakened emotional expression and human connection.
“In the past, writing letters allowed us to reflect, to think and to express emotions honestly,” he says. “Now people even ask artificial intelligence to write love letters for them. Our brains are being put to sleep.”

Read: New age realities: Why AI is a double-edged sword for Kenyan creatives

Professor Kabaji also criticises the way emojis and abbreviations have replaced words. “If you use words, you can express your feelings better than an emoji,” he argues.

He adds that most emojis are not even culturally representative. “This is another form of modern colonisation,” he says.

While he acknowledges that artificial intelligence and predictive text are here to stay, he insists that people must use technology wisely. “AI can help us, but we must still think critically. The human mind should never be taken for granted.”

He warns that over-reliance on digital tools can weaken critical thinking and self-editing skills. Some writers, he observes, no longer read carefully or reflect deeply before publishing their work.
“If you misuse technology, it erodes human connection,” he cautions.

→[email protected]