Why Gen Z & Millennials Avoid Answering Phone Calls

Gen Z and Millennials often avoid answering phone calls due to preferences for digital communication methods like texting and messaging. They value the flexibility of asynchronous communication, which allows them to respond at their convenience without the pressure of real-time conversation. Additionally, phone calls can be perceived as intrusive or inconvenient compared to more controlled and efficient digital interactions.

"Hi, you’ve reached Yasmin Rufo’s voicemail. Please refrain from leaving a message, as I won’t listen to it or return your call."

The Reality of Phone Calls for Gen Z and Millennials

While the voicemail message above isn’t my actual one, it reflects how many Gen Z and Millennials feel. A recent survey reveals that a quarter of people aged 18 to 34 avoid answering the phone, opting instead to ignore calls, respond via text, or look up unknown numbers. The Uswitch survey of 2,000 individuals found that nearly 70% of 18-34s prefer texting over phone calls. For older generations, phone conversations were common, as they grew up with landlines where family members often overheard calls.

In the late 1990s, I used the landline solely for business, while my teenage years were consumed by texting. From the moment I got my pink flip Nokia on my 13th birthday, I was obsessed with texting, crafting messages within the 160-character limit, and avoiding phone calls due to their high cost. Dr. Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist, notes that because young people did not develop the habit of phone conversations, it now feels unusual. Many fear unexpected calls, associating them with bad news, as found in the Uswitch survey.

Psychotherapist Eloise Skinner attributes this anxiety to a sense of dread associated with calls, which are often reserved for significant news due to busy schedules. Jack Longley, 26, avoids unknown numbers, assuming they are either scammers or cold callers, preferring to ignore them. Despite this, young people stay connected through group chats, memes, and voice notes. The Uswitch survey indicates that 37% of 18-34s prefer voice notes, though only 1% of those aged 35-54 share this preference.

Susie Jones, a 19-year-old student, finds voice notes more polite and less pressured than calls. However, I find long voice notes tedious and prefer text messages for their brevity.

Phone Phobia in the Workplace

This aversion to phone calls extends to the workplace. Henry Nelson-Case, a 31-year-old lawyer and content creator, highlights the anxiety associated with real-time conversations and the pressure to respond immediately. Dunja Relic, a 27-year-old lawyer, avoids workplace calls as they can disrupt tasks. Skinner notes that calls require the recipient to pause their day, which can be challenging for multitaskers.

James Holton, a 64-year-old business owner, observes that younger employees often avoid phone calls, preferring texts or diverting calls. He has adapted to this shift in communication preferences. Skinner warns that continued reliance on non-verbal communication might erode the sense of closeness and connection that verbal interactions provide. Ciara Brodie, a 25-year-old supermarket area manager, appreciates phone calls from her seniors, finding them more meaningful than texts. While some view this shift as a sign of a "generation snowflake," it reflects a natural adaptation to more efficient communication methods. Just as we moved from fax machines to emails, embracing text-based communication over phone calls might be the next step.

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Source: bbc‍