That’s what I would say if I was a Gen Z or Millennial according to a Uswitch Survey that found a quarter of 18 to 34 year olds never answer their phones.

That explains the results of my LinkedIn Poll last week that asked if people would message someone before phoning them. I had 380 votes and this is what they said:

Sometimes               34%

Most of the time       27%

Rarely                                   20%

Never                         19%

So the question is would a Gen Z or Millennial speak to you if you texted them first? Perhaps as the Uswitch survey also found that 70% of the same age group would prefer a text top a phone call.

This may all sound strange to Gen X and Baby Boomers, but if we want to communicate with the younger generations should we follow suit and change our habits – because picking up the phone was a habit that older generations developed and have therefore become more comfortable with that method of communication.   But go back further to those born before 1940 and they’ll remind us how expensive phone calls used to be so they got in to the habit of having short phone calls. I may be getting this wrong, because I usually just pick up the phone and call someone. But it seems the etiquette around phone calls has evolved, where a growing number of people find it impolite to call someone without texting first.

Is this what you think?

The shift is particularly evident among younger generations who view unsolicited calls as intrusive. It’s suggested that a quick text or WhatsApp message before calling allows the recipient to manage their time and avoid interruptions, especially during meetings, meals, or other engagements.

The practice of leaving voicemails has declined in popularity, with many preferring a short text message instead. Voicemails, especially lengthy ones, are often seen as burdensome, as most people simply call back without listening to the message. Meanwhile, voice notes have gained in popularity – I’m not sure what the difference is when it comes to the burden of listening to them. What do you think?

Most of the time it seems the current advice is to keep communication efficient and considerate of the other person’s time. However, exceptions exist for emergencies, close friends, and family, where direct calls are still acceptable.

As always it’s a balancing act where the guidance is changing all the time between the spontaneity of phone calls and the convenience and non-intrusiveness of text messaging.