[discostu]

Accents have been on the way out since long before Siri. When TV decided the “normal” American accent was midwestern all other accents were on a ticking clock. Every generation is exposed less and less to their regional accent and more and more to the midwestern. Mass media does that.

[SkyPilot]

I knew a young man who went on a 3 week business trip to London.

When he returned he spoke in a faux upper class British accent. It was very, very awkward.

Some celebrities have done the same thing.

Madonna was one of the most famous phonies, but there are others.

Madonna putting on her infamous british accent!

[Hugin]

No, Midwestern accents sound “hick”. Californian non-accent is the media default.

[Yaelle]

The Midwestern accent was prevalent in the media in the 1930s-1950s. Since Opie it’s also been flattened. The California radio voice rules all. Yes, it happens to be my accent, but I am sad about it. I love all the different accents of this country.

[Prolixus]

Accents have been on the way out since long before Siri. When TV decided the “normal” American accent was midwestern all other accents were on a ticking clock. Every generation is exposed less and less to their regional accent and more and more to the midwestern. Mass media does that.
Yep, I am no longer able to speak with my native (Boston) accent and my born-in-Boston son has never had one. Funny thing is, my from-somewhere-else neighbors think I have a strong accent. The fact that they can understand anything I say tells me I no longer have a strong Boston accent ;)