The Death of Phone Calls: Why Millennials and Gen Z Prefer Texting
In a world where communication is key, the younger generations are changing the game by ditching phone calls in favor of texting. A recent survey conducted by Uswitch revealed that a quarter of people aged 18 to 34 never answer the phone, opting instead to ignore the ringing, respond via text, or search the number online if they don’t recognize it.
For many young people, talking on the phone is no longer the norm. Dr. Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist, explains that this shift in communication habits has led to anxiety around phone calls, with more than half of young people fearing that an unexpected call means bad news.
But the aversion to phone calls isn’t just limited to personal life – it’s also affecting the workplace. Henry Nelson-Case, a 31-year-old lawyer and content creator, shares his struggles with phone calls in his “overwhelmed millennial” videos, highlighting the anxiety associated with real-time conversations and the pressure to respond immediately.
Despite the preference for non-verbal communication, some young professionals like Ciara Brodie, a 25-year-old supermarket area manager, appreciate the effort that goes into a phone call, especially from seniors at work. Brodie values the connection and input that comes from a phone conversation, especially on days when she works from home.
While some may view this shift towards texting as a sign of weakness, it’s actually about adaptation. Just as we moved on from fax machines to email in the 1990s, it may be time to leave phone calls behind in 2024. As communication continues to evolve, the power of text messaging is becoming increasingly evident, making communication more efficient and effective for the younger generations.
