'I can hear their breathing': Why Gen Z doesn't say 'hello' when answering the phone

"Well, the latter might be common among the workforce's youngest members, as a number of recruiters have been pointing out a generational gap in phone etiquette. "I just found out that Gen Z don't answer the phone when they answer the phone," one recruiter explained in a recent TikTok post, now with more than 1 million views. "I think it's so weird, it's so awkward.""

""I'm a recruiter, so I do a TON of phone interviews and something I've noticed about Gen Z specifically is that a lot of them answer the phone and don't say anything," they posted. "I can hear their breathing and the background noise, but they wait for you to say hello first." Of course, there are many things that Gen Zers do that older generations can't wrap their heads around:"

"While as a generation they average more than six hours a day on their phone, Gen Zers are typically averse to actually picking it up when it rings. In fact, a 2024 study showed nearly a quarter of the generation doesn't even bother to answer. The most common reason? Scammers. As one commenter on the viral TikTok explained, they refuse to say anything right off the bat, as bots automatically hang up if they don't hear "hello" within the first three seconds of the call."

Recruiters and social posts report that many Gen Z callers answer phones but remain silent, waiting for the other party to speak first. High overall phone usage coexists with reluctance to pick up incoming calls because of frequent scam calls and automated bots. Some Gen Zers avoid saying hello or their names out of concern that AI could clone voices or that bots will hang up. A 2024 study found nearly a quarter of Gen Z may not answer calls. The pattern reflects evolving norms and security-conscious approaches to voice communication.

Read at Fast Company