Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jun 20
42% of Gen Z, Millennials Avoid Calls as 78% Say It Costs Them at Work
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jun 20

42% of Gen Z, Millennials Avoid Calls as 78% Say It Costs Them at Work

3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jun 20

Summary

  • A survey of 2,000 Gen Zers and millennials found 42% do not answer phone calls, and 58% script or rehearse conversations before making them.
  • Among respondents who avoid spoken conversations, 78% said that habit has already cost them earnings or career opportunities, linking phone anxiety to workplace setbacks.
  • RiseGuide dubbed the behavior “callergy,” arguing texts, emails and social media let people delay real-time conversations and weaken communication skills through lack of practice.
  • One in 10 respondents said a spontaneous call is their most stressful form of communication—more stressful than a breakup or a job interview—showing how deeply call avoidance has spread.

Insights

Is 'callergy' a real phobia or a smart move for better workplace efficiency?
Why does your brain treat an unexpected phone call like a genuine threat?
As AI voice agents become common, will human phone skills even matter soon?