Why Gen Z, millennials shy away from answering the phone
Many people belonging to Gen Z and millennials are reluctant to talk on phone and they feel much comfortable in texting.
Most of them wish to leave such a message in their voicemail,"Hi, you’ve reached the voicemail of X. Please don’t leave a message because I won’t listen to it or call you back."
A recent survey revealed that a quarter of people aged 18 to 34 never answer their phones. Instead, they often ignore the ringing, respond via text, or search the number online if it’s unfamiliar. The Uswitch survey of 2,000 people also found that nearly 70% of those aged 18-34 prefer texting over phone calls.
For older generations, phone conversations are second nature—many spent their teenage years battling over the landline and enduring their entire family listening in on their conversations. In contrast, my teenage years were dominated by texting. From the moment I received my first phone, a pink flip Nokia on my 13th birthday, I was hooked on texting. Every evening after school, I would meticulously craft 160-character messages, trimming unnecessary spaces and vowels to fit within the limit.
Back then, mobile phone calls were expensive, and my parents would constantly remind me, "We didn’t give you this phone to gossip with your friends all evening," as they scrutinized my monthly phone bill. This gave rise to a generation of texters—mobile phone calls were reserved for emergencies, and the landline was used sparingly, mainly to speak to grandparents.
Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist, explains that because young people didn’t grow up speaking on the phone, "it now feels weird as it’s not the norm." This can cause anxiety when the phone rings (or silently lights up, as few under 35 have loud ringtones). More than half of the young respondents in the Uswitch survey admitted they associate unexpected calls with bad news. Psychotherapist Eloise Skinner notes that anxiety around calls often stems from "an association with something bad—a sense of foreboding or dread."
"As our lives get busier and work schedules more unpredictable, we have less time to call a friend simply to catch up," Skinner adds. "Phone calls become reserved for important news, which can often be complex and difficult."
"It’s exactly that," says 26-year-old Jack Longley, who also avoids answering unknown numbers because "it’s either scammers or cold callers." He finds it easier to ignore the calls than to filter out which ones are legitimate.
However, dodging phone calls doesn’t mean young people aren’t staying connected with friends. Group chats buzz throughout the day with a mix of casual messages, memes, gossip, and increasingly, voice notes. Many of these conversations now happen on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, where sharing images and memes alongside texts is more convenient.
While phone calls are mostly avoided, voice notes have divided younger generations. According to the Uswitch survey, 37% of 18-34-year-olds prefer voice notes for communication, compared to just 1% of those aged 35 to 54.
"A voice note is like a phone call but better," says Susie Jones, a 19-year-old student. "You get the benefit of hearing your friend’s voice without the pressure, making it a more polite way to communicate." But for me, listening to a five-minute voice note from a friend can be frustrating—they often get sidetracked, peppering their speech with "like" or "um," and the entire story could easily be condensed into a few text messages. Both texts and voice notes allow young people to engage in conversations at their own pace, providing more thoughtful responses.
Phone phobia in the workplace
But how does this phone call aversion impact the workplace?
Henry Nelson-Case, a 31-year-old lawyer and content creator, shares relatable sketches about the anxiety of sending company-wide emails, politely refusing to work overtime, and, of course, avoiding phone calls. He attributes his discomfort with phone calls to "the anxiety associated with real-time conversations, potential awkwardness, not having the answers, and the pressure to respond immediately."
"Phone calls are more exposing and require a higher level of intimacy, whereas messaging is detached and allows you to connect without feeling vulnerable," Dr. Touroni explains.
Dunja Relic, a 27-year-old lawyer, steers clear of workplace calls because "they can be time-consuming and set you back on your tasks." Skinner describes this as the "this could have been an email" sentiment. "There’s a growing sense of protection over our time, and calling someone requires the recipient to pause their day and dedicate attention to the conversation—a difficult thing for multitaskers to do."
James Holton, a 64-year-old business owner, observes that his younger employees rarely answer phone calls and often divert his number, so the call never goes through. "They always have an excuse, with the most common being, 'My phone was on silent, so I never saw it and forgot to call you back later.'"
He’s had to adapt after noticing a "visible communication gap," recognizing that "if employees are more comfortable with texts, then it’s my responsibility to respect that choice."
Source: BBC
