While taking my daily stroll through the interweb the other day, I found an article about millennials {for the record, millennials are people born between 1977-1998} hating voice mail. With text and social media, the millennial generation feels like voice mail has become more of a hassle. After all, a quick text gets right to the point, whereas a voice mail requires listening to, and getting through what can potentially be awkward stuttering…or worse, really bad attempts at humor.
Even though I am not a millennial {apparently, I am a generation X’er–born between 1965-1976}, I’ll admit, I wouldn’t mind if voice mail went away completely. I love getting a text. I can read it…or not, quickly. And I can respond…or not, whenever the heck I get around to it. I know I can do that with voice mail, but somehow voice mail feels more tedious. Plus, I always wonder what the etiquette is on a voice mail. If someone leaves me a voice mail, do I have to call them back, or can I just text them? {Talk about 1st world problems! :)} I get there is something more personal about a voice mail, but let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t feel like being personal–you feel like being pragmatic with quick yes or no answers.
What do you think, is voice mail is on its way out? {Maybe one day the Smithsonian will have an iPhone on display with the voice mail screen pulled up–like an interactive display for the kids?} Would you rather leave a voice mail or text?
~Mavis
Sharon says
This is an ongoing battle between myself (Baby Boomer) and son (Millenial). It in business world, it is standard operating procedure to leave a voicemail; and since that’s were I spend 40+hrs a week, it’s a natural thing to do. When my son calls someone in connection with a business issue, if he can’t reach them, he just hangs up(!). You need to be able to use both, IMO. Millenials really don’t understand that phones were designed for talking … GRRRRR!
Cheri Blomquist says
I agree. I don’t like either talking on the phone (though I sure did as a teen!) OR texting. I do text, but I find it curt and unfriendly most of the time (though I’m sure it’s not intended), and I find replying on such a little keypad to be a nuisance. With voice mail I get annoyed that so many people don’t return calls. In fact, I heard of one rude man who wouldn’t even listen to and respond to his dad’s voice mails, just to drum into his dad’s head that he preferred texts (!!!). In the end, though, I would say that most people today who own cell phones need to be able to do both and know the etiquette for both. I find it also concerning that teens almost seem afraid of talking on the phone today in a real, personal conversation. My oldest is like this, and so are her friends. She only calls people as a last resort and tries to do everything by text or email.
Ashley says
I’ll leave a voicemail if I’m calling about something that doesn’t require a response. But I hate getting voicemails saying ‘call me back’. Since my mom and husband are usually the only people who call me (cuz I’m so popular!), I just call them back when I see that I missed their call. I’m a millennial, but I don’t like texting, social media or talking on the phone…..I guess I prefer email, or just to be left alone, lol.
Dale says
While I feel the same in regards to leaving a voice mail, I’m tending more and more to just hanging up when someone doesn’t answer the phone. Most business phones have caller ID and missed call lists. If the person is intrested they can call me back. I was a late convert to texting but now hate going through the process of retrieving a voice mail from my cell. About 6 or 8 months ago I unplugged my home phone due to an everyday robo call from some scam company. Just don’t see a reason to plug it back in. If i start getting robo calls on my cell I hope there is a way to disable the voice mail.
Diane says
I don’t think it’s on the way out. Business calls leave messages, not texts. Just the other day my daughter’s doctor cancelled her appointment and left a voice message. They wouldn’t have texted her. If I am calling a business I will leave a message, how else will they know what I want! It isn’t their job to try to figure out who called and why!
My son may text to check in, but we call each other to talk (he lives on the opposite coast). I want to hear his voice!
Voice mail is no different from the old answering machine after all. Those with landlines still use them.
Mavis says
Our dentist now sends text messages! So while I so agree that leaving a message is still important, I wonder how long it will be before more businesses are texting instead of voice mail?
Dee says
I’m an X’er. I rarely leave vm in favor of texts or emails (which have morphed into text messages sent by email). However, our family has doctors who only take voice mails– Yes, that’s right, no email, no texts. Practically the only way to communicate with his office is to leave a detailed voice mail with lots of information. Then you wait for them to call you back. If you can’t/don’t answer, they leave you a voice mail. Then I have another doctor who doesn’t take any messages — you can call during her office hours and hold, and that’s about it.
If someone I know calls and I miss it, I’ll just call them back. If they left a voice mail, I wont listen to it — I’ll just call them back. BUT if someone I don’t know calls I rarely answer, sending it to voice mail. So then it’s imperative that they leave a message and that I listen to it — i.e., if you are looking for a job or to hire someone, this is important.
Voice mail has its place. It is a mere tool in the communications tool box. You have to know how and when to use it–just like every other mode of communication.
Tamara says
Having two adult children living far away (one serving our country), I LOVE voice mail! Texts are great and we use them but nothing takes the place of a loved one’s voice. Texts also cannot convey nuances in meaning the way a human voice can. With so much great technology we are losing the art of communication, I fear!
Monica Brown says
I HATE voicemail! It is such a hassle, especially at work. You have to change it when you are in or out of the office and it is a lot more tedious than e-mail. If I have a pressing issue I will call and if no one answers then I will NOT leave a message and just send an e-mail. 9 out of 10 times I receive an e-mail back a lot more quickly than I would with a voicemail due to people having cell phones with their work e-mail on them. I do not have a home phone, it was pointless after everyone in the home had a cell phone. Generally, no one leaves a voicemail on my cell phone. If they need me and I do not answer they will send me a text. I am a millennial.
Mavis says
So true about the email back faster than the call back!
Diane says
But, what about those calls like telling you your car is ready at the shop? Or that your library books are in? That your dog’s blood test results are back and you can pick up his meds? None of the businesses like that that I deal with use texts or leave emails and if I have a message on my phone I can pick up the meds, or the books, or arrange a shuttle to go get the car.
Melissa says
I’m sure it will take a while, but I think more of these types of notifications are headed toward an automated email/text version. The two library systems near me definitely have email option to let you know about holds being ready, and like Mavis said, her dentist now sends texts! This is one area I would prefer texts or emails – it’s just basically an automated reminder or notification anyway – the times I am going to use voicemail, I would rather take the trouble to use it when I want to catch up with a friend or family member and actually am trying to get personal or share a lot more info than I usually would in a text – can’t wait til the business world can just leave me text/email!
Rosaleen says
We have a simple “dumb phone,” not a smart phone. Our plan does not include texts, so if someone decides to send one to us, it costs more. We do use voice mail all of the time. It is cheaper and we can return calls when it is convenient, including leaving a reply message, if necessary. Voice allows for intonations which E-mail and texts do not. I can send a voice mail hands-free, which can be important.
My age is showing…
Tracie H says
Fellow x’er here and I don’t think I’ve actually gotten a voicemail in the past 6 months, at least. Of course it could be because my HH informed me about a week ago that mine isn’t set up! Hahahaha ha! We switched from dumb phones, and I just assumed that my voicemail switched just like all of the other info from my previous phone. Oh well…….
Mavis says
Haha. That’s hilarious!
Stacey says
Maybe someday if absolutely everyone texts, voicemail will go away. For now, I still have my landline and would rather be contacted on that than on my little tracfone for some things. Yes, my husband and I are still in the dark ages, but I’m too pragmatic to get an expensive phone at this point if I don’t need one. I only have a handful of people that text me, and I’d rather keep it that way rather than have a list of those to go through every day.
LIsa G. says
I can understand the expediency of texting… for example: “we need bread” to my husband. But I don’t feel that email/texting will ever take the place of voice messages. I LOVE hearing my sister’s voice when I’ve missed her call. Texting is cold and impersonal, IMO. Perhaps that is why they created emoticons. It scares me how farther and farther away we get from actual human communication. I still send hand written letters or cards to surprise friends out of the blue. Is that a GenX thing? Maybe. Back “in the day”, before cell phones became prevalent and “smart”, we handmade cards and really took the time to show we cared. Voice mail falls somewhere in the middle. An email/text lacks tone of voice, and can be misunderstood, although I see its purpose in the business world. But in real life, I want to hear the voice of someone I care about, especially if it is an important matter. So, I think there is room for both. It’s a matter of choosing your purpose and audience.
Liz says
First off I want to say, what the heck happened to Generation Y?? I was born in 84 and grew up very differently than the 20 year old kids born in the 90s. Ok mini rant over. One thing I do have in common with them is I also hate voicemail. I hate leaving it and don’t really like listening to it. Visual voicemail has made it better since I can pick to skip to important messages, but I’ve HIGHLY considered changing my VM message to include “if you need to get a hold of me quickly, text me!”. I’m a photographer so my phone also gets used for business, but I’m dealing with moms (who are around my age) and high school seniors, both of which are pretty comfortable with texting. Actually I’ll often have clients text before they call or email, and honestly I’m fine with that 🙂
Mavis says
I have a friend whose message actual says to text her back instead of leaving a message. I think that’s genius!