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Answering a phone call was once one of the most common forms of communication. Today, however, many people prefer to respond via text messages, audios, or apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. The increasingly frequent behavior has caught the attention of researchers, psychologists, and digital communication specialists.
The change is not just due to technology. Studies and research show that factors such as anxiety, the need for control over conversations, fear of scams, and cultural transformations help explain why messages have gained ground while calls have lost popularity.
Research shows growing preference for messages
A survey conducted by the British platform Uswitch with about 2,000 participants revealed that approximately 70% of people between 18 and 34 years old prefer to exchange text messages rather than answer phone calls. Additionally, about 25% stated that they never answer the phone when it rings. The research also showed that 68% of young people prefer a call to be arranged in advance, while 56% associate unexpected calls with negative news or urgent problems.
The data indicates a significant change in communication habits, especially among generations that grew up in a digital environment, where written interaction has become more common than voice conversation.
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Anxiety is one of the explanations pointed out by science
Researchers and mental health professionals identify a phenomenon known as “telephonophobia,” characterized by anxiety related to phone calls.
Psychologist Cibele Santos explains that a phone call demands immediate responses and reduces control over the interaction. In messaging apps, on the other hand, a person can think before responding, review the content, and choose the best time to continue the conversation. This control reduces emotional pressure and makes communication more comfortable for many people.
Psychologist Jailton Souza also highlights that calls are often perceived as invasive because they interrupt ongoing activities and demand immediate attention. Messages, on the other hand, allow each person to manage their own response time.
Written communication offers more control
Besides anxiety, text communication offers practical advantages that help explain its popularity.
When writing a message, it is possible to organize ideas, correct errors, and reflect before responding. In a call, the conversation happens in real-time and requires constant improvisation.
The vice president of Korn Ferry consultancy for South America, Aline Riccio, notes that many young people consider phone calls unnecessary when the same issue can be resolved by message. According to her, a call interrupts the flow of work or leisure, while written communication allows more autonomy and flexibility.
Fear of scams also influences behavior
Another important factor is the increase in phone frauds.
In recent years, reports of scams involving fake bank centers, undue charges, attempts to steal data, and automated calls have increased. As a result, many people have become suspicious of unknown numbers.
Research on digital behavior shows that a significant portion of users prefer to search the number on the internet or wait for a message before deciding to return the contact. Caller ID apps and spam filters have further reinforced this habit.
Change is stronger among the young
The transformation also has a generational component.
While older people grew up using landlines and voice calls as the main means of communication, members of Generation Z were born into an environment dominated by instant messaging, social networks, and digital apps.
Therefore, many young people find it natural to send a message instead of making a call. In many cases, unexpected calls are seen as unnecessary interruptions, while messages offer an experience more compatible with current digital habits.
Calls remain important in some situations
Despite the growing preference for messages, research indicates that voice calls still play an important role.
Emotionally significant moments, delicate conversations, and emergency situations continue to be circumstances where many people prefer to hear the voice of the interlocutor. Studies cited by Uswitch show that more than half of young people say they would be disappointed if they did not receive a call on important occasions.
Additionally, experts point out that voice conversations help convey emotions, intonations, and nuances that do not always appear in written messages.
A transformation in the way of communicating
The habit of avoiding calls does not necessarily mean disinterest or lack of manners. In most cases, it reflects cultural, technological, and behavioral changes that have transformed the way people relate to each other.
The combination of practicality, control over time, reduction of anxiety, and concern about scams has made messages the main means of communication for millions of people. Meanwhile, calls have become reserved for specific, urgent, or emotionally more important situations.
Source: ND Mais, with data from Uswitch research and analyses by psychologists and digital behavior specialists.
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