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| less than a minute read

Why Gen Z & Millennials are hung up on answering the phone

The use of technology, and comfort using it, varies among different generations. Turns out that while Gen Z and Millennials like to have a mobile phone, they just don't like to talk on the phone!

A recent survey of 2,000 people found that nearly 70% of 18-34s prefer a text to a phone call. A lot of this stems from growing up in the early days of mobile phones when calls cost a fortune and were not for chit-chatting (cell phones were for emergencies only!). Text messages cost 10 cents each and were limited in character count. The landline was for talking to grandma.

Today, few people have landlines, and most people have unlimited calling and texting on their mobile phone. Yet that behavior forged at a time when young people didn't develop the habit of speaking on the phone now feels weird as it's not the norm.

Talking on the phone is for important events (birth of a child, death in the family, or similar news) and texting is how to keep in touch.

But if this trend continues, one day could our mobile phones come without… an actual phone?!?

A recent survey found a quarter of people aged 18 to 34 never answer the phone - respondents say they ignore the ringing, respond via text or search the number online if they don't recognise it.

Tags

generation z, millenials, phone, mobile phone, cell phone, texting, communications, fun facts, english

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