Stop sending voicemails, they said. As surprising as it may sound, it turns out that voicemails – those audio messages we send through our phones – might not be as beneficial for our virtual communication and relationships as we thought.
Several studies suggest that voicemails are not necessarily more convenient, and it would be better to send a text before opting for a voicemail. This revelation is quite astonishing, especially given that a recent study has shown that the younger generations dislike them. According to a report highlighted by Slate, hardly anyone listens to voicemails anymore. To clarify: this refers to the voicemails left on call messaging services.
The End of Voicemails?
Psychologies Magazine reports that in 2014, telecommunications service Vonage revealed a year-on-year decline in voicemail usage.
According to the Washington Post, “Don’t leave a voicemail” is their advice. The reason? “Everyone accuses millennials of being the ‘me’ generation and of claiming all rights for themselves. I think they are just incredibly pragmatic. To them, if a voicemail is not practical – which is the case most of the time – and there’s a more convenient way to convey the same information, that’s the one they’ll choose,” said Jane Buckingham, a trend analyst for NPR. Simply put, for the younger generation, voicemails are not efficient and can generally be replaced by another form of communication.
The study also pointed out other digital communication rules. It seems that the younger generation prefers texting before calling. For example, sending a message before calling someone can determine whether the person is available or not. Moreover, the study reveals that young people don’t have an issue declining a call if they’re unavailable. We no longer talk just to talk; “texts are for facts and speech is for emotions,” as Jane Buckingham put it.
So, what do you guys think of this finding? Would you keep sending voicemails, or stop them altogether?
