A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 77% of those aged 18-29 would prefer to catch up in person. More than three quarters (79%) of Gen Z and Millennials would prefer to save information for an in-person debrief, but this drops to 63% of Gen X and 55% of Boomers.
Spending time together in real-life feels more genuine for 35% of Gen Z, while 43% are more engaged in the conversation when catching up face-to-face. Four in ten think their parents’ lives were simpler when they weren’t so connected by phones, or influenced by social media. Even more telling, 36% believe people were more comfortable making conversation with others then.
As a result, 74% of those aged 18-29 are keen to unplug and embrace ‘analogue’ culture, and want to spend more time away from screens.
Jo Hemmings, behavioural psychologist on behalf of Jakemans, which commissioned the research, said: “Texts can strip away parts of human connection, the warmth in someone’s voice, the hesitation, the affection and those subtle signals that help us understand how they’re really feeling.
“It’s hardly surprising that written messages can be misunderstood when we’re missing so much of the emotional context. “
Some 37% of Gen Z will opt to video call their friends or family to avoid typing a lengthy message and cover the full story.
Overall, 92% of all ages believe things can get lost over text, with emotion (52%), tone (50%) and meaning (45%) seen as the easiest to misinterpret.
Humour (42%), whether someone is being serious or not (40%), sarcasm (38%) and personality (37%) were other aspects that don’t always translate over a digital chat.
But despite 84% recognising an in-person chat is often better for a proper catchup, 76% polled via OnePoll, admitted they’ve chosen to send a message instead of using verbal communication.
With 23% saying they wanted to avoid interrupting anyone, whereas 20% think it simply feels quicker.
Elizabeth Hughes-Gapper, from Jakemans, which has created a map to show the UK’s favourite ways to reconnect, added: “Moments that matter in our lives are influenced by the voices that guide us, and it’s clear why we gravitate towards certain people.
“There is so much weight and as the research shows, personality in the way we speak as it’s so personal from one individual to the other.
“It’s become the norm to share our thoughts or feelings online, via email, text and so on, so there is even more significance in those conversations we’re choosing to have in real-life. And why taking care of our voice matters so much.”