By Holly Mason Holly.Mason@bravebison.com
Phone call anxiety is becoming an increasingly common experience, with Google searches soaring 3547% this last year, and millions on TikTok sharing their experiences of avoiding phone calls, replaying discussions, and delaying important conversations.
Now, new research from Answering Service Care found that 43% of adults aged 18–24 describe routine phone calls as extremely stressful. More than half of young adults delay making important calls, and one in five have cried during a phone conversation.
Alexandria Williams, Licensed Professional Counselor, has commented on the matter and provided advice on how to combat the worrying new trend.
43% of Gen Z find calling businesses highly stressful, as phone call anxiety booms on TikTok
The Answering Service Care survey of 2,003 Americans found that routine business phone calls are more than three times as stressful for Gen Z as they are for people aged over 55. While 43% of 18–24-year-olds describe routine calls, such as booking an appointment or checking an order, as very or extremely stressful, just 13% of over-55s say the same. One in five young adults admit they’ve cried during a call to a business.
Younger Americans are avoiding necessary phone calls
While phone call anxiety affects every generation, younger adults appear to be feeling it most.
More than half (51%) of adults aged 25–34 admit they regularly put off making necessary calls to companies, the highest of any age group. Among 18–24-year-olds, 41% say they do the same, while almost four in ten (39%) over-55s also admit postponing important calls.
35% of 18-34-year-olds say they would rather speak to an AI assistant than a human adviser if it meant avoiding small talk.
Alexandria Williams, Licensed Professional Counselor, comments on why younger people are struggling:
“Younger generations have grown up communicating primarily through text and social media, where there’s more time to think, edit, and control how we present ourselves. Phone calls remove that buffer, requiring people to respond in real time, tolerate uncertainty, and navigate moments that feel less predictable. When we don’t regularly practice those skills, even a routine phone call can feel like a high-stakes interaction.”
“The phone call is rarely the real source of anxiety. More often, it’s the uncertainty surrounding the interaction. Our minds begin imagining being judged, saying the wrong thing, being rejected, or not knowing how the conversation will unfold. The phone simply becomes the place where those fears show up.”
Americans dread family crises, money trouble, and healthcare calls the most
More than half of Americans find calls about a death or family crisis highly stressful; 41% say the same of money trouble; 38% say the same of health news. That ranking roughly matches how permanent or life-altering the news feels, a useful proxy for which calls need the most careful handling regardless of channel.
