Gen Z Is Changing Phone Etiquette

A new phone greeting trend among Gen Z is reshaping traditional etiquette. Increasingly, they avoid saying “hello” when answering calls. This habit has been influenced by the digital age and concerns about spam and scams. The goal is to make phone conversations feel safer and less intrusive, though it often leaves older callers confused or frustrated by the initial silence.

In the past, “hello” was a standard part of answering the phone. The word gained popularity more than a century ago, but younger generations who grew up with mobile phones rather than shared landlines are rethinking what polite phone behavior looks like. During scheduled calls or after prior messaging, many Gen Z users expect the caller to speak first instead of offering an automatic greeting.

This change is partly a defensive measure. With spam and robocalls increasing, many younger users avoid using the word “hello” to reduce the chance of triggering spam scripts. Some are also concerned, although this is rare, about scammers cloning their voice recordings for fraud. In this context, staying silent can act as an added layer of security.

This shift in etiquette reflects larger changes in how people communicate. The prevalence of texting, video calls and scheduled conversations has changed how voice calls are perceived. While traditional phone manners still matter to older generations, Gen Z is setting new standards that better align with mobile habits and digital privacy concerns.

Source: Business Insider, Success Magazine, Digital Information World

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