When you answer the phone, do you greet with a friendly “hello,” a formal “[your name] speaking,” or just pick up and stay silent, waiting for the caller to make the first move?
Apparently, the silent approach is gaining traction, especially among younger workers, and it’s sparking a generational divide in phone etiquette. Recruiters are noticing this trend, particularly with Gen Z. In a TikTok post that’s racked up over 1 million views, one recruiter shared, “I just found out Gen Z doesn’t say anything when they answer the phone. It’s so awkward hearing their breathing and background noise.”
This isn’t a new observation. Back in July, an X post by another recruiter went viral, noting, “As a recruiter, I do tons of phone interviews, and I’ve noticed Gen Z often answers the phone silently, waiting for me to say ‘hello’ first.”
It’s not just recruiters scratching their heads. Older generations are puzzled by other Gen Z quirks, like the so-called “Gen Z stare”—a blank look given in response to questions. Now, it seems this silent phone habit is another point of confusion.
Despite spending over six hours a day on their phones, Gen Z is notoriously hesitant to answer calls. A 2024 study found nearly 25% of them don’t pick up at all, often citing fear of scammers as the reason. Commenters on the viral TikTok offered more insight: some avoid saying “hello” because scammer bots hang up if they don’t hear it within seconds. Others mentioned concerns about AI mimicking voices for fraudulent purposes, with one saying, “Just saying ‘hello’ or your name can let hackers copy your voice.”
Interestingly, this habit isn’t exclusive to Gen Z. Millennials and Gen Xers in the comments admitted to staying silent too, often believing the caller should speak first. “If you called me, you say hello and state your purpose,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Isn’t it common courtesy that the caller starts the conversation?”