Why do young people not answer texts?

I tell people to text, not phone. I don't want my phone ringing at all times and be expected to drop what I'm doing and answer. I tell people 'text me and I'll respond....phone and I won't.
 
I'm very communicative and a writer/content creator as well. I am a Gemini, smack dab in the middle of the months range, and a communicator almost to a fault. šŸ˜„ I type a lot on my computer and that's how I send emails. I use my phone for texting.

I communicate with 3 relatives younger than me and they don't automatically reply (if ever) to most of my texts and emails. Occasionally, they do. It used to infuriate me. I always reply to theirs, whether a reply is required or not. I feel that it's courteous and ensures the person that I got it.

I have accepted their behavior and become more patient. I comfort myself by remembering that:

* not everyone lives on the computer like I do.

* I have reminded myself that most people today use their phones to communicate and don't know that they can long press on a msg and choose an emoji to acknowledge the text.

* While email can be managed on the phone, it's not easy to type on the tiny screen and keyboard, so many avoid it.

* And I am old enough to have lived through a time when courtesy was a given.

* I also worked in the clerical profession and am trained in formal communication.

I feel that it is better to be compassionate and not try to change others, though I really have wanted to rant, rave and demand. šŸ˜” I remember that if I must have a response, I can simply ask for one. šŸ˜Š
 
Some of my children are not responsive in a timely manner. I am like others above, I always think communication etiquette requires an acknowledgement. Perhaps some of them need to do some more growing and learning. They may get there. Most of us did, lol.
 
January said:
I dont know about young people - but I don't always answer texts immediatly. If I am doing something or at work or my phone is at home while I walk the dog etc etc. I answer them but by no means immediatly
If someone wants me immediatly they are better of phoning me
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I have waited months or weeks to respond to my sister. I didn't get a popup that she texted. Hadn't seen it and rarely used Whatsapp then.

I don't need a text back if it isn't an answer.
I love the thumbs up.


 
January said:
My dad struggles with mobile phones, He is ok answering calls but cant get the hang of voice mail. We set up a message saying Please do not leave a message, I dont know how to access them
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My mom doesn't even have a smartphone. She has a normal old fashioned landline house phone
 
Aunt Bea said:
My gripe with texting on Facebook messenger, people who just leave you in what feels like the middle of a conversation without warning.
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I don't use Facebook, but with just normal phone texts there have been a few times when, during a text conversation, a call will come in that I must take. The texting pauses until that call is finished. Is it abrupt? Yes, but life happens and I will explain that later. It happens to everybody.

There have been times when, during phone conversations, the other person was texting with someone else. Perhaps it was important and needed an immediate response? IDK but I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt.
 
All the reasons given for why the young don't respond to texts apply to me also. If it's important, you can call me. Leave a message if I'm not there.
 
I text back and forth constantlyā€¦to family, friends, clients etc. and depending on context, sometimes a reply isnā€™t necessary. Nonetheless Iā€™ll typically respond with an appropriate emoji.

I have an ongoing group text with the family, on which everything get sharedā€¦.jokes, random happenings, fun photos, texts about what place time weā€™re going to gather for a birthday, seasonal event etc. sometimes they require a response, sometimes not.

My own personal rule of thumb for when I text is when I sent a text that actually requires an answer Iā€™ll send a follow up question mark or just their name or whatever to remind them. Otherwise Iā€™ll just assume that they got the text and am not offended with lack of response.
 
If I get a text, I get only one brief sound notification. It may be possible to change that in settings - I'm not sure, and probably won't bother to check on that. But, if I get a phone call, I get a continual ringing until I answer or it goes to voicemail. That is why a phone call works best for me - espeically if it's a matter of importance.

In some other thread from the past, I've mentioned that on occasion, I have left someone a voicemail simply to give them a certain piece of information, and I do not need them to call me back. If they would listen to their voicemails instead of just calling me back automatically simply because they notice a missed call, it would save both of us unneccesary time on the phone.
 
If my ex has something important he calls and lets the phone ring once, then hangs up. That means: I sent a text. I read the text and mainly say okay or give it a thumbs up lol.
 
Well not exactly a "young person", a friend of mine is considerably younger(early 60s) and doesn't answer texts, which leads me to wonder: is she reading my sent texts?

text.jpg
 
hearlady said:
One of my daughters only answers if it requires an answer. Sometimes you text her and she doesn't respond with an "OK", " Got it", nothing. If I texted you and said, " It's a beautiful day. I hope you can get out some." Nothing. I realize that doesn't require an answer but wouldn't you respond?
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I would but we're of a different age with, I think, more etiquette rules.
 
Luckily, most people I communicate with regularly also prefer texting. I see it as one big, ongoing conversation, so thereā€™s never really a formal start or end. Iā€™ll usually say "bye" or something if I need to stop for a bit. Iā€™m definitely guilty of not answering right away unless itā€™s urgent. If itā€™s just a general on going conversation, I usually wait until Iā€™m free to reply. And those I text with are usually the same way.
 
I text my son often during the day. If he's free, he'll respond. I know he is busy and typically
he doesn't text right away. But someone in this thread mentioned about asking a question, and I
believe that works. The question that gets a quick response from him: "Is everything ok?"
 
I prefer talking on the phone, but it seems nobody in my family and friends group shares that feeling. It appears this texting etiquette is still being sorted out. At least with voice there are accepted beginning and endings. I have been guilty of leaving a text conversation ā€œdangling,ā€ but I usually respond as soon as I see someone initiating a text. Trouble is if I am out biking, hiking, driving or riding I usually donā€™t hear the tone and even if I do, need to reach a stopping point to reply. How did we exist before this mobile phone world?
 
MarkinPhx said:
Luckily, most people I communicate with regularly also prefer texting. I see it as one big, ongoing conversation, so thereā€™s never really a formal start or end. Iā€™ll usually say "bye" or something if I need to stop for a bit. Iā€™m definitely guilty of not answering right away unless itā€™s urgent. If itā€™s just a general on going conversation, I usually wait until Iā€™m free to reply. And those I text with are usually the same way.
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I like the freedom of not being tied to a voice conversation, replys can be made when convenient...that part is acceptable and understood. It's when people(for reasons that escape me) people NEVER reply, that's when I feel ghosted.
 
EmptyCup said:
I prefer talking on the phone, but it seems nobody in my family and friends group shares that feeling. It appears this texting etiquette is still being sorted out. At least with voice there are accepted beginning and endings. I have been guilty of leaving a text conversation ā€œdangling,ā€ but I usually respond as soon as I see someone initiating a text. Trouble is if I am out biking, hiking, driving or riding I usually donā€™t hear the tone and even if I do, need to reach a stopping point to reply. How did we exist before this mobile phone world?
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In the past, we used to rely on carrier pigeons to communicatešŸ˜‚ Kids nowadays have way more forms of entertainment than we did, and it makes them overlook how important communication is. Most of the games we played back then were social ones, like catā€™s cradle, hopscotch, and jumping elastic bands.
 
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