Communication Habits and Preferences 2024 is a UK survey of 4,067 people aged from 8 to over 78, with quotas by age band so every generation from Gen Alpha to the Silent Generation is properly represented. It found that 71% of Gen Z find it easier to connect with people their own age, 53% of Gen Z would message rather than leave a voicemail, and 45% of Gen Z workers want feedback at least weekly.
Communication Habits and Preferences 2024 is the largest piece of original research we have published: a survey of 4,067 people in the UK, from eight year olds to people in their eighties, on how they choose to communicate. This page publishes the full results as tables so they can be read, checked and quoted without opening the 83-slide PDF. It is the companion to our Generations in the Workplace Study 2023, which asked HR managers the same question from the employer's side, and the source for most figures on our generations statistics UK page.
Communication Habits and Preferences 2024 was an online, independently sampled survey, supplemented by personal contacts, with quotas set on age band to ensure robust coverage of each generation. Fieldwork ran from July to September 2024, average completion time was 7.5 minutes, and the final sample was 4,067. Research consultant Kate Thompson designed and analysed it, and it was published in September 2024 by Generationally Speaking and Present Yourself Ltd.
88% of respondents were born in the UK (95% of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation, 82% of Gen X and Millennials). For children in Gen Alpha, the socio-economic question was answered by their parents.
| Generation (survey label) | Age in 2024 | Respondents | Implied birth years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Alpha | Up to 12 (youngest respondents were 8) | 201 | 2012 onwards |
| Gen Z | 13 to 27 (13 to 15: 185; 16 to 17: 116; 18 to 21: 330; 22 to 27: 351) | 982 | 1997 to 2011 |
| Millennials (survey label Gen Y) | 28 to 43 (28 to 35: 432; 36 to 43: 426) | 858 | 1981 to 1996 |
| Gen X | 44 to 59 (44 to 50: 414; 51 to 59: 466) | 880 | 1965 to 1980 |
| Baby Boomers | 60 to 78 (60 to 69: 481; 70 to 78: 430) | 911 | 1946 to 1964 |
| Silent Generation | Over 78 | 235 | 1945 or earlier |
| Total | 4,067 |
The survey defines generations by age at the time of fieldwork; the implied birth years above are calculated from the age bands and line up with the Pew Research Center cut-offs used across this site. The deck uses "Gen Y" throughout; this page says Millennials. 2,047 of those aged 18 and over were working, and 314 of those aged 16 and over were full-time students.
| Socio-economic group | AB | C1 | C2 | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey sample | 33% | 28% | 18% | 10% | 12% |
| National profile | 27% | 28% | 20% | 15% | 10% |
The smartphone is close to universal: 92% of all respondents use one to communicate, including 79% of the Silent Generation. The landline divides the generations most sharply, used by 73% of the Silent Generation and 52% of Baby Boomers but only 11% of Gen Z. Gen Alpha is the only generation where the tablet (50%) beats the laptop (28%).
| Device | Total | Gen Alpha | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | Silent Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | 92% | 75% | 95% | 97% | 95% | 89% | 79% |
| Laptop | 52% | 28% | 55% | 59% | 53% | 48% | 49% |
| Tablet | 34% | 50% | 30% | 35% | 31% | 37% | 35% |
| Landline or house phone | 28% | 7% | 11% | 16% | 27% | 52% | 73% |
| Desktop computer | 26% | 7% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 30% | 41% |
| Mobile phone (not a smartphone) | 8% | 0% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 15% |
Among under 16s, 82% have a mobile phone of their own (67% of Gen Alpha 8 to 12 year olds and 98% of Gen Z 13 to 15 year olds), nearly always a smartphone. 73% of Gen Alpha 8 to 12 year olds with a smartphone first got one aged 10 or younger. 45% of under 16s with a phone are not allowed to use it at school at all, and 55% have rules at home about using it.
WhatsApp leads in every generation, used by 80% of all respondents, peaking at 91% of Millennials and still reaching 61% of the Silent Generation. Below WhatsApp the generations part company: Snapchat (66%) and TikTok (61%) are Gen Z platforms, Messenger belongs to Millennials (70%) and Gen X (62%), and Instagram is used by 74% of Gen Z but 5% of the Silent Generation.
| App or platform | Total | Gen Alpha | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | Silent Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% | 60% | 87% | 91% | 80% | 72% | 61% | |
| Messenger | 51% | 10% | 41% | 70% | 62% | 47% | 40% |
| 42% | 10% | 74% | 61% | 33% | 13% | 5% | |
| FaceTime | 29% | 17% | 36% | 36% | 29% | 21% | 13% |
| TikTok | 26% | 25% | 61% | 32% | 13% | 4% | 3% |
| Snapchat | 25% | 25% | 66% | 27% | 9% | 3% | 1% |
| 3% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
The deck notes that TikTok use as a communication tool is concentrated among 16 to 21 year olds. Gen Alpha's communication runs through WhatsApp (60%), Snapchat and TikTok (25% each).
Emoji use falls steadily with age. 49% of Gen Alpha and 43% of Gen Z use emojis or stickers all the time when messaging, compared with 13% of Baby Boomers and 6% of the Silent Generation. 26% of the Silent Generation never use them, against 2% of Gen Z.
| Use of emojis or stickers | All the time | Sometimes | Rarely | Never |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 30% | 50% | 14% | 7% |
| Gen Alpha | 49% | 44% | 3% | 3% |
| Gen Z | 43% | 48% | 7% | 2% |
| Millennials | 39% | 51% | 8% | 2% |
| Gen X | 24% | 55% | 16% | 5% |
| Baby Boomers | 13% | 50% | 22% | 14% |
| Silent Gen | 6% | 42% | 26% | 26% |
Across the whole sample, 34% have used an AI platform such as ChatGPT and 29% have communicated with friends through online games or virtual worlds. Both habits belong to the young: 59% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials have used an AI platform, 72% of Gen Alpha and 59% of Gen Z communicate through games, and not one Silent Generation respondent does.
| Generation | Ever used an AI platform | Never used an AI platform |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 59% | 41% |
| Millennials | 48% | 52% |
| Gen X | 29% | 71% |
| Baby Boomers | 13% | 87% |
| Gen Alpha | 13% | 87% |
| Silent Gen | 4% | 96% |
Daily AI use was in low single figures for every generation in summer 2024. Around 40% of Gen Z were using AI at least several times a month, but the intermediate frequencies for Gen Z and Millennials overlap on the chart, so only the ever and never figures are given here.
| Communicate through online games (at least this often) | Daily | Several times a week | Weekly | Monthly | Ever | Never |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Alpha | 19% | 50% | 63% | 69% | 72% | 28% |
| Gen Z | 11% | 29% | 41% | 54% | 59% | 41% |
| Millennials | 4% | 16% | 23% | 32% | 36% | 64% |
| Gen X | 2% | 5% | 9% | 13% | 14% | 86% |
| Baby Boomers | 0% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 98% |
| Silent Gen | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
Half of Gen Alpha (50%) communicate through games several times a week or more. Paul Carter, tech expert and BBC presenter, discussed shifting attitudes to technology on the episode Bridging Generational Gaps Through Technology.
WhatsApp (55%) and text (52%) are the most common ways to wish a friend happy birthday, but the card in the post is the great generational marker: 79% of the Silent Generation and 68% of Baby Boomers send one, against 13% of Gen Z. Voice notes are arriving from the other end, sent by 25% of Gen Alpha and 0% of the Silent Generation. Respondents picked their top three.
| Method | Total | Gen Alpha | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | Silent Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp message | 55% | 53% | 54% | 70% | 57% | 46% | 29% |
| Send a text | 52% | 47% | 64% | 53% | 54% | 40% | 36% |
| Phone them | 41% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 46% | 56% |
| Card in the post | 39% | 20% | 13% | 23% | 45% | 68% | 79% |
| Instant message on social media | 35% | 23% | 47% | 43% | 37% | 21% | 15% |
| Visit them in person | 33% | 54% | 39% | 31% | 30% | 29% | 23% |
| Card via an online service | 11% | 4% | 9% | 11% | 11% | 11% | 14% |
| 11% | 2% | 4% | 7% | 11% | 19% | 36% | |
| Voice note | 11% | 25% | 20% | 15% | 5% | 2% | 0% |
Two figures cut against the stereotypes: 54% of Gen Alpha would visit in person, the highest of any generation, and 36% of the Silent Generation would send a birthday email, more than any other group.
71% of respondents aged 16 and over have sent a personal letter or card in the post in the last year, and 4% never have. Every generation still uses the post, but frequency falls steeply with age: 35% of the Silent Generation posted something personal in the last week, compared with 7% of Gen Z, and 13% of Gen Z never have.
| Last sent a personal letter or card (at least) | Last week | Last month | Last 3 months | Last 6 months | Last year | Never have |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Gen | 35% | 62% | 77% | 83% | 88% | 0% |
| Baby Boomers | 24% | 55% | 70% | 79% | 85% | 1% |
| Gen X | 14% | 36% | 54% | 63% | 72% | 2% |
| Millennials | 10% | 29% | 44% | 56% | 65% | 4% |
| Gen Z | 7% | 24% | 41% | 50% | 57% | 13% |
Asked to pick the single method they use most often to contact friends or family they do not live with, 38% said WhatsApp and 25% a phone call. WhatsApp comes first for every generation except the Silent Generation, where 47% would phone; only 19% of Gen Z would phone first.
| Most often used to contact friends and family | Total | Gen Alpha | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | Silent Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp message | 38% | 41% | 35% | 49% | 42% | 34% | 21% |
| Phone them | 25% | 19% | 19% | 22% | 21% | 33% | 47% |
| Text them | 18% | 14% | 23% | 13% | 22% | 16% | 12% |
| Instant message on social media | 8% | 7% | 14% | 9% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
| Email them | 4% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 9% | 12% |
| Visit in person | 3% | 9% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 3% |
| Send a voice note | 1% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
Texting is the habit that varies least by age: 99% of Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X send text messages, as do 96% of Baby Boomers. Email is used by almost everyone from Gen Z upwards, but far less often by the young: 10% of Gen Z email more than once a day against 37% of Gen X. Voice notes are the new divide, left by 85% of Gen Z but never used by 44% of Gen X and 60% of the Silent Generation.
| Generation | Ever send texts | Never send texts | Ever send emails | Never send emails |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Alpha | 87% | 13% | 38% | 62% |
| Gen Z | 99% | 1% | 92% | 8% |
| Millennials | 99% | 1% | 97% | 3% |
| Gen X | 99% | 1% | 98% | 2% |
| Baby Boomers | 96% | 4% | 98% | 1% |
| Silent Gen | 88% | 12% | 98% | 2% |
53% of Gen Z send texts more than once a day, the highest of any generation, and 62% of Gen Alpha never send emails. Across the whole sample, 97% send texts, 93% send emails and 64% leave voice notes.
| Leave voice notes (at least this often) | More than once a day | Every couple of days | Once a week | Ever | Never |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 20% | 49% | 59% | 85% | 15% |
| Millennials | 15% | 35% | 47% | 75% | 25% |
| Gen Alpha | 14% | 35% | 46% | 72% | 28% |
| Gen X | 4% | 11% | 19% | 56% | 44% |
| Baby Boomers | 2% | 6% | 13% | 45% | 55% |
| Silent Gen | 1% | 4% | 12% | 40% | 60% |
62% of the Silent Generation and 49% of Baby Boomers like speaking on the phone and do it a lot, against 32% of Gen Z, 31% of whom either only phone if they have to (26%) or hate it (5%). Gen X is the generation most likely to say "only if I have to" (32%) and the least likely to answer an unknown number (24%).
| Do you like speaking on the phone? | Yes, I do it a lot | Yes, but not my preference | Only if I have to | Hate it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 39% | 32% | 25% | 4% |
| Gen Alpha | 38% | 31% | 29% | 1% |
| Gen Z | 32% | 37% | 26% | 5% |
| Millennials | 35% | 34% | 25% | 6% |
| Gen X | 35% | 29% | 32% | 4% |
| Baby Boomers | 49% | 29% | 21% | 2% |
| Silent Gen | 62% | 23% | 14% | around 1% |
| Would accept a call from an unknown number | Total | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | Silent Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 31% | 36% | 34% | 24% | 28% | 33% |
Voicemail is dying out from the bottom up. If a call goes unanswered, 49% of the Silent Generation and 46% of Baby Boomers would leave a voicemail, against 12% of Gen Z, 53% of whom would send a message instead. Similar proportions of every generation (36% to 40%) would simply try again later.
| If your call is not answered | Hang up and try again later | Send a text, message, voice note or email instead | Leave a voicemail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 38% | 36% | 26% |
| Gen Alpha | 40% | 46% | 14% |
| Gen Z | 36% | 53% | 12% |
| Millennials | 37% | 46% | 16% |
| Gen X | 38% | 34% | 28% |
| Baby Boomers | 39% | 15% | 46% |
| Silent Gen | 40% | 11% | 49% |
Anthony Stears, "The Telephone Assassin", talked through how phone communication has evolved on the episode Generational Communication in a Changing World. Our guide to generational communication styles sets out what these preferences mean in practice.
69% of all respondents use social media much. Use is lowest among Gen Alpha (38%), becomes almost universal from age 16 (91% of Gen Z), then tails off to 44% of Baby Boomers and 32% of the Silent Generation. Gen Z are the heaviest users: 32% of Gen Z social media users spend four hours or more a day on it, and 76% spend at least an hour.
| Use social media much | Total | Gen Alpha | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | Silent Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 69% | 38% | 91% | 86% | 69% | 44% | 32% |
| Time on social media in a typical day (users only) | Less than 5 minutes | 5 to 30 minutes | Half an hour to an hour | 1 to 3 hours | 4 to 6 hours | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2% | 17% | 24% | 40% | 14% | 4% |
| Gen Alpha | 1% | 18% | 30% | 39% | 11% | not shown |
| Gen Z | not shown | 6% | 17% | 44% | 26% | 6% |
| Millennials | 1% | 13% | 22% | 44% | 14% | 5% |
| Gen X | 4% | 22% | 28% | 39% | 7% | 1% |
| Baby Boomers | 2% | 37% | 32% | 24% | 3% | 1% |
| Silent Gen | 1% | 29% | 37% | 29% | 4% | not shown |
Older generations post to sustain links: 86% of the Silent Generation who post do so to share information. Younger generations post for self-expression: 53% of 18 to 21 year olds post "to show who I am", and 50% of Gen Alpha post because they enjoy getting likes and shares, against 24% overall.
| Main reasons for posting (top three) | Total | Notable generation scores |
|---|---|---|
| To maintain relationships with existing friends and family | 55% | Silent Gen 79%, Baby Boomers 77% |
| To share information | 54% | Silent Gen 86%, Baby Boomers 76%, Gen X 60% |
| To make people smile | 47% | Gen Alpha 59%, Baby Boomers 64%, Silent Gen 64% |
| To show who I am | 30% | Gen Z 18 to 21 53%, Gen Z 16 to 17 45% |
| Because it is just something everyone does | 30% | Gen Alpha 47%, Gen Z 13 to 15 47%, Gen Z 16 to 17 42% |
| To celebrate or share my achievements | 29% | Gen Z 18 to 21 38% |
| Because I enjoy getting likes and shares | 24% | Gen Alpha 50%, Gen Z 13 to 15 42% |
| To make new friends | 15% | Gen Z 22% |
| To earn money | 9% | |
| To become successful or famous | 7% | Gen Alpha 13%, Gen Z 11% |
Mark Saxby of Positive Social discussed social media's influence on younger generations on the episode Social Media and Its Intergenerational Impact.
2,047 respondents aged 18 and over were working, and a further 134 had worked in the previous 12 months. Of these 2,181, 40% mainly work in an office and 23% at home, and 39% manage other people, rising to 48% of Millennials. In this section Gen Z is split into 18 to 21 and 22 to 27 year olds because the two groups often answer differently.
52% of workers are based at home or at least sometimes work from home; 18 to 21 year olds are the least likely to (34%). Among home workers, 39% feel more productive at work, 29% at home and 32% say it makes no difference.
| Working from home | Home is main place of work | Ever work from home (additional) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23% | 29% | 52% |
| Gen Z 18 to 21 | 13% | 21% | 34% |
| Gen Z 22 to 27 | 16% | 40% | 56% |
| Millennials | 20% | 33% | 53% |
| Gen X | 27% | 24% | 51% |
| Baby Boomers | 29% | 22% | 51% |
| Where do home workers feel more productive? | At home | The same | At work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 29% | 32% | 39% |
| Gen Z 18 to 21 | 45% | 9% | 45% |
| Gen Z 22 to 27 | 23% | 23% | 55% |
| Millennials | 28% | 35% | 37% |
| Gen X | 34% | 31% | 35% |
| Baby Boomers | 23% | 55% | 22% |
Among workers whose job involves networking in person, 13% love it and 29% quite like it (44% of Baby Boomers), while 32% of 22 to 27 year olds would prefer to do it online and 23% of Gen Z only do it if told to. For reaching colleagues, phone (50%) and email (49%) still lead, but 36% of Gen Z and Millennials would use a messaging app and 10% of Gen Z would send a voice note.
| How do you feel about networking in person? | Total | Notable generation scores |
|---|---|---|
| I love it and do it as often as I can | 13% | |
| I quite like it | 29% | Baby Boomers 44% |
| I do not mind it | 34% | Gen X 42% |
| I would prefer to do it online or another way | 21% | Gen Z 22 to 27 32% |
| Only if I am told to | 18% | Gen Z 23% |
| I avoid it at all costs | 8% |
| Preferred ways to get hold of work colleagues | Total | Notable generation scores |
|---|---|---|
| Phone or audio call | 50% | |
| 49% | Millennials and older 51% | |
| Go to see them in person | 38% | Gen X and older 42% |
| SMS or text | 33% | |
| Message on a messaging app | 32% | Gen Z and Millennials 36% |
| Message through a company platform | 23% | Gen Z 22 to 27 28%, Millennials 29% |
| Instant message on social media | 12% | |
| Video call through a company platform | 12% | |
| Video call on a messaging app | 11% | Gen Z 22 to 27 17% |
| Voice note | 6% | Gen Z 10%, Millennials 9% |
55% of workers use video calls for work. Liking them rises with age: 40% of Baby Boomers who use video calls like it and do it a lot, compared with 18% of 18 to 21 year olds, 38% of whom only do it if they have to. The stereotype of the older worker who cannot cope with video calls does not survive contact with the data.
| Do you like communicating by video call for work? | Yes, I do it a lot | Yes, but not my preference | Only if I have to | Hate it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 34% | 34% | 29% | 3% |
| Gen Z 18 to 21 | 18% | 40% | 38% | 4% |
| Gen Z 22 to 27 | 25% | 46% | 28% | 2% |
| Millennials | 35% | 32% | 30% | 3% |
| Gen X | 37% | 30% | 29% | 4% |
| Baby Boomers | 40% | 32% | 23% | 5% |
Agreement with five attitude statements is highest among the youngest workers and falls with age. 81% of 18 to 21 year olds and 82% of 22 to 27 year olds are ambitious to move up in their career, against 20% of Baby Boomers. 61% of 18 to 21 year olds prefer to work by themselves and 55% think formal procedures restrict people.
| Statement | Gen Z 18 to 21 | Gen Z 22 to 27 | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I prefer to work by myself (agree) | 61% | 53% | 55% | 52% | 41% |
| I am ambitious to move up in my career (agree) | 81% | 82% | 66% | 33% | 20% |
| I believe that formal procedures and policies restrict people (agree) | 55% | 48% | 46% | 35% | 32% |
| I tend to have distant, rather formal, relationships with people at work (agree) | 50% | 45% | 45% | 40% | 31% |
| I do not mind hurting people's feelings a bit, so long as the job gets done (agree) | 31% | 29% | 27% | 19% | 18% |
The "hurting feelings" row tests the stereotype of the fragile young worker: 31% of 18 to 21 year olds do not mind hurting feelings a bit to get the job done, against 18% of Baby Boomers. Henry Farr, a young entrepreneur, gave a grounded account of how Gen Z approaches the workplace on the episode What Gen Z Wants at Work and Why It Matters.
Younger workers want feedback more often. 45% of Gen Z workers would like it at least weekly (15% as often as possible, 8% daily, 22% weekly), while 17% of Baby Boomers would prefer it once a year. Across all workers with a boss, 41% get feedback less often than they would like and 19% more often.
| Preferred feedback frequency | Total | Notable generation scores |
|---|---|---|
| As often as possible | 11% | Gen Z 15% |
| Daily | 4% | Gen Z 8% |
| Weekly | 16% | Gen Z 22%, Millennials 18% |
| Every 2 weeks | 7% | |
| Monthly | 25% | |
| Every 3 months | 13% | |
| Every 6 months | 10% | Gen X 13%, Baby Boomers 15% |
| Once a year | 8% | Gen X 11%, Baby Boomers 17% |
| Less often | 2% | |
| Never | 4% | Gen X 5%, Baby Boomers 6% |
| Actual feedback frequency | Total | Notable generation scores |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 6% | Gen Z 10% |
| Weekly | 15% | Gen Z 19%, Millennials 17% |
| Every 2 weeks | 8% | Gen Z 12% |
| Monthly | 22% | |
| Every 3 months | 12% | |
| Every 6 months | 10% | |
| Once a year | 10% | Gen X 14%, Baby Boomers 15% |
| Less often | 10% | |
| Never | 7% |
75% of workers say the way people think and behave at work varies depending on their age, and the figure barely moves by generation, from 73% of 22 to 27 year olds to 77% of Baby Boomers. Communication style is the difference most often named (51%), ahead of work ethic (43%) and attitudes to work-life balance (41%).
| Ways thinking and behaviour vary by age | Total | Notable generation scores |
|---|---|---|
| Communication styles | 51% | |
| Work ethics | 43% | Millennials 46%, Gen X 47% |
| Attitudes towards work-life balance | 41% | |
| Attitudes towards technology | 36% | |
| Leadership styles | 29% | Gen Z 18 to 21 35%, Millennials 33% |
| Expectations of their employers | 25% | |
| Attitudes towards diversity and inclusion | 23% | Baby Boomers 26% |
| Attitudes towards job security | 16% |
That 75% figure is the employee-side match for the 66% of HR managers who told our 2023 study that intergenerational communication affects business efficiency. Paddy Crump, a 21-year-old digital wellbeing campaigner, described entering the workplace as Gen Z on the episode Gen Z, Digital Wellbeing and Entering the Workplace.
314 respondents aged 16 and over were full-time students, with a further 19 in education in the previous 12 months; of these 333, 42% were on a degree course and 40% doing A levels, AS levels or Highers. 54% feel more productive learning in class than at home (26%), messaging beats phone calls and visits for reaching fellow students, and 59% only use video calls for learning if they have to or hate them.
| Where do students feel more productive? | At home | The same | At school, college or university |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 16 to 17 | 23% | 20% | 57% |
| 18 to 21 | 26% | 19% | 55% |
| 22 and over | 32% | 25% | 43% |
| Preferred ways to get hold of fellow students | Total | Notable age scores |
|---|---|---|
| Instant message on social media | 46% | |
| Message on a messaging app | 45% | 22 and over 62%, 18 to 21 47% |
| SMS or text | 44% | 16 to 21 46% |
| Go to see them in person | 37% | |
| Phone or audio call | 26% | |
| 18% | 22 and over 28% | |
| Voice note | 10% | 16 to 17 16% |
| Video call | 8% |
| Do you like video calls for learning? | Yes, I do it a lot | Yes, but not my preference | Only if I have to | Hate it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 9% | 32% | 40% | 19% |
| 16 to 17 | 6% | 31% | 43% | 20% |
| 18 to 21 | 9% | 33% | 41% | 16% |
| 22 and over | 17% | 28% | 30% | 25% |
Students want feedback even more often than young workers: 26% would like it as often as possible and 26% weekly, and 60% get feedback less often than they would like.
| Feedback from teachers and tutors | Preferred | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| As often as possible | 26% | |
| Daily | 6% | 8% |
| Weekly | 26% | 21% |
| Every 2 weeks | 15% | 14% |
| Monthly | 16% | 23% |
| Every 3 months | 6% | 20% |
| Every 6 months | 7% | |
| Less often | 3% | 7% |
| Never | 1% | 0% |
Respondents aged 16 and over were invited to comment at the end of each section; 27% did so on technology and 17% on how we get in touch. Age bands are in brackets.
"It's very impressive. The ability to talk to someone thousands of miles away instantly without issue is amazing, people don't appreciate how truly insane it is." (18 to 21)
"I love the fact that I can keep in touch with family & friends who don't live near me. I'm seeing my niece's baby grow up on FaceTime" (51 to 59)
"While it's convenient and fun I think modern day technology has ruined the way we communicate and relationships in general. We have lost touch with genuine authentic relationships, some people don't even know how to converse anymore" (22 to 27)
"I much prefer being able to message: give me time to process my response before replying. I find phone calls quite stressful" (22 to 27)
"Everything is becoming so impersonal. Actually speaking to other people can express your feelings better and you can feel warmth (or otherwise) in their voice" (70 to 78)
"My method of communication would be different depending on the family member/friend I am talking to (e.g. call for grandparents, text for parents, WhatsApp for siblings)" (28 to 35)
"Compared to the old days?? It's all so instant. Back in the day you had to wait until someone found your request in the pile of paperwork on their desk" (51 to 59)
"Clear, concise, and respectful communication is key. Technology enables efficiency, but tone and nuance can be lost" (28 to 35)
First, the sampling. The deck describes itself as an online, independently sampled survey supplemented by personal contacts, with quotas by age band. It does not name the panel provider, so this page does not either. The sample was not weighted on every measure; the socio-economic profile above shows AB households over-represented and D households under-represented against the national profile.
Second, the geography. The deck does not state "UK" as a filter; it is treated as a UK sample because 88% of respondents were born in the UK and the socio-economic profile is compared with the UK national profile.
Third, the line charts. Several frequency questions (AI use, online games, texting, email, voice notes, use of the post) were published as cumulative line charts. The "ever" and "never" end points are printed exactly; intermediate points were read from the charts, and where lines overlap this page omits them or says "around".
Fourth, the bases. Many questions were asked only of those aged 16 or over, 18 or over, or of workers, students or social media users; each table states its base. Gen Alpha figures come from 201 children aged 8 to 12.
Greener, A. (2024). Communication Habits and Preferences 2024. Generationally Speaking / Present Yourself Ltd. https://generationallyspeaking.co.uk/how-the-generations-communicate-in-2024/
You are welcome to quote any figure on this page, provided you attribute it to Communication Habits and Preferences 2024 (or "a 2024 UK survey of 4,067 people by Generationally Speaking") and link back to this page. Journalists can find more in our media resources.
The complete 83-slide deck is available as a PDF: Communication Habits and Preferences 2024 (PDF).
When the first results came in, the number I kept coming back to was 71%. Seven in ten Gen Z respondents told us they find it easier to communicate and connect with people close to their own age. Among Baby Boomers it was 36%. That is not a small difference in taste; it is a difference in how comfortable a whole generation feels talking across the age gap, and it explains a lot of what I hear from managers.
The second thing I took from it is how badly the stereotypes perform. The oldest generation in our sample is the most likely to send a birthday email. Baby Boomers like work video calls more than anyone else. 31% of 18 to 21 year olds do not mind hurting feelings to get the job done, more than any other group. Nobody is imagining the differences. They just are not the differences the jokes describe.
Having spent a decade interviewing business leaders for television, I know how easily a good anecdote beats a dull number. This survey is my attempt to give the numbers a fair hearing. Most of the generation gap turns out to be a channel gap, and channel gaps can be closed.
It is a UK survey of 4,067 people aged from 8 to over 78, run from July to September 2024 with quotas by age band so that every generation from Gen Alpha to the Silent Generation is well represented. It asked how people prefer to communicate, which devices and apps they use, and how those habits differ at home, at work and in education.
4,067 people completed the survey: 201 in Gen Alpha (up to 12), 982 in Gen Z (13 to 27), 858 Millennials (28 to 43), 880 in Gen X (44 to 59), 911 Baby Boomers (60 to 78) and 235 in the Silent Generation (over 78). 2,047 of those aged 18 and over were working.
Gen Z, by a distance. 53% of Gen Z would send a message rather than leave a voicemail if a call went unanswered, and just 32% like talking on the phone and do it a lot. Among the Silent Generation 62% like phoning and do it a lot, and 49% would leave a voicemail.
Yes. 72% of Baby Boomers and 61% of the Silent Generation use WhatsApp, and it is the single most common way Baby Boomers contact friends and family (34%), just ahead of phoning (33%). The Silent Generation is the only generation where a phone call (47%) comes before WhatsApp (21%).
45% of Gen Z workers would like feedback on their performance at least weekly: 15% as often as possible, 8% daily and 22% weekly. Across all workers, 41% get feedback less often than they would like. Baby Boomers are at the other end, with 17% preferring feedback once a year and 6% never.
Yes. Any figure on this page may be quoted, provided it is attributed to Communication Habits and Preferences 2024 by Generationally Speaking and linked back to this page. A citation line is given above, and the caveats section explains which figures are exact and which are chart readings.
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