Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend? • Hacker News Board

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#11

Post by rzazueta » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 7:55 PM UTC

I'm in my fifth decade and I only answer the phone if it's someone I personally recognize - and, even then, I often let it ring out or dismiss it, unless it's my immediate family members.

I'd say I let them go to voicemail, but that doesn't even work anymore. With "ringless voicemail drops" all 20 voicemail slots are filled within two days from the same three robocallers. I've given up staying ahead of it - anyone worth talking to knows one of the other handful of ways to immediately get a hold of me.

This is not a question of "politeness" - it's a matter of enshittification and profit seeking from the same handful of money perverts who own everything, leaving us with the scraps and the pain of dealing with their shortsightedness.

I seem to only use my phone these days for playing the occasional game, doomscrolling, and getting work-related emails when I'm not at my desk.

I question every day whether it's worth keeping. Every day it feels less worth it.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#12

Post by fzzzy » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 7:56 PM UTC

Whenever I get a call, my iPhone never rings. I’m not the only one this happens to. It’s been quite a while. Maybe a year. I have tried turning off all continuity phone settings as some people say this helps.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#13

Post by rzazueta » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 7:58 PM UTC

bdangubic wrote: post #10

b3ing wrote: post #4

I get 5-10 robo calls a day, can’t blame anyone

register at https://www.donotcall.gov/ and that will come down to seldom-to-never.

About as effective as robots.txt.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#14

Post by alexjplant » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:01 PM UTC

bdangubic wrote: post #10

b3ing wrote: post #4

I get 5-10 robo calls a day, can’t blame anyone

register at https://www.donotcall.gov/ and that will come down to seldom-to-never.

This is empirically false as I've been registered for 19 years and still receive several a day.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#15

Post by bobmarleybiceps » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:07 PM UTC

100% of the time I get a call, it's spam, a doctor, or my mom.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#16

Post by i80and » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:08 PM UTC

bdangubic wrote: post #10

b3ing wrote: post #4

I get 5-10 robo calls a day, can’t blame anyone

register at https://www.donotcall.gov/ and that will come down to seldom-to-never.

People told me this about the DMAchoice website the FTC links to.

$6 later, and I receive exactly the same amount of junk mail as before.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#17

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:17 PM UTC

biglyburrito wrote: post #7

If your phone number isn't in my contacts list, your call goes straight to voicemail.

[deleted]

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#18

Post by unnamed76ri » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:22 PM UTC

Telaneo wrote: post #9

unnamed76ri wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just for fun, you can approach texts with a metaphorical “talk to me now!” shout by simply texting “Hey” It is amusing how well it works at getting a quick response.

Obligatory https://www.nohello.com/

Hey

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#19

Post by CAP_NET_ADMIN » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:24 PM UTC

I've had my phone in silent/DND for the past 15 years and never answer the phone unless I'm awaiting a call.

I'm around 30yo.

Re: Teenagers no longer answer the phone: Is it a lack of manners or a new trend?

#20

Post by FractalParadigm » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 8:39 PM UTC

bobmarleybiceps wrote: post #15

100% of the time I get a call, it's spam, a doctor, or my mom.

I don't even get calls from my doctor anymore, everything is done online/through a portal, I just get an email with a link to my doctor's "secure portal," enter my DoB, and all our "conversations" are right there, neatly organised by topic.

If anything, if I'm getting calls from anybody in my family (or if I'm calling them), it's just assumed that it's a life-or-death problem that *genuinely* needs to be dealt with right now. Very few things in this world are so urgent that they need to be addressed right now.