Unsure of why. Did you never hear it said to you as a child?
It is fairly powerful and significant to say it if you feel it and mean it.
It is for you to say and not them to reply in kind

Just being honest?

Poem of Parting

Too much love
Somehow appears
No love at all.

Over a farewell glass
We can’t manage
Even a friendly smile.

Only the candle
Is able
To generate feeling.

All night
weeping
Little tears of wax.

Du Mu (9th Century)

I can not say it either.
I think I may not be capable of that emotion, so I can not say it, because it would not be true.

Don’t sweat it! So many people say those words and they don’t even know what they really mean since there are so many types of “love.” If you ever feel the desire to say those words to someone, they will know that you mean them!

I believe when you get older you will find the capacity to say it and mean it. I am assuming that you are young, I could be wrong. If so you may have some deep fear or embarrassment or a psychological diagnosis.

Recently said “I love you” to a new female friend (happy to have her as my friend).
I still haven’t said it, directly, to my parents.
Say it to my girlfriend quite often.

There are many ways to say it, many ways to feel it, many ways it can grow into another kind of, and many difficulties regarding expressing it.

Most important, in my book, is how your behavior towards your loved ones is, and your actions.

I think it is really hard for many people to say ‘I love you’. I agree that age plays a role and that, in time, it may change.

My nineteen year old daughter writes the most thoughtful things in cards and does wonderfully thoughtful things for me (and others). Meanwhile, she has T said ‘I love you’ to me since she was about twelve and doesn’t even call me anything to my face. Just ‘Hey’ or just starts talking talking to me.

I assume that will change.

It is an expression that can leave you feeling vulnerable.

Many people didn’t grow up hearing it or saying it so it’s uncomfortable. Sad.

I have no problem with it with wife and family. In my single days I learned to be very sparing and careful with the “L” word. It got me in a stupid jam more than once. I suppose different people have different reasons.

The word love is overused and has come to mean almost nothing at all in daily usage and yet the phrase “I love you” means so much I never dare to use it.