Pew: Adults still prefer voice calls to text messages

By on Sep 20, 2011 at 7:00 AM
Services September 20, 2011

American adults still prefer communicating by voice over sending and receiving text messages according to a recent survey conducted by The Pew Research Center. Pew surveyed 2,277 Americans ages 18 and older between April 26th and May 22nd of this year, and found that nearly three-quarters of them send and receive text messages. Despite the increased popularity of text messaging among adults in the U.S., however, only 31% prefer messaging to voice calls. More than half — 53% — said voice calling was their preferred means of communications rather than SMS, and 14% said their preference would depend on the situation. Pew also notes that young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are by far the most active users of text messaging, with the average user in that age range exchanging more than 100 messages each day.

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  • http://www.QEDMethods.com Philip

    Not me, I much prefer texting to voice, especially since voice now days tends to include people with a lot of ambient noise in the background.

  • Anonymous

    I would’ve liked to have seen this broken down by gender as well. I prefer voice but most women I know text far more than use voice.

  • http://twitter.com/jamespyles James Pyles

    Who funds these studies?

    • Fred

      Um, maybe phone companies?  Or else the Dairy Council.  What do you think?

  • Anonymous

    I prefer text over voice also but thats because I dont like to hold a phone to my ear and also texting doesn’t require my full attention so I’m free to do other things as well.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chuck-Wilson/1349086575 Chuck Wilson

      I hope your not driving when texting.

      • Anonymous

        That’s what voice-to-text is for..

  • Anonymous

    Based on 2,277 people??  So these results are based on 0.00073% of the US population. That’s an accurate representation, right. LOL

    • Bringit

      You honestly think this is a serious enough of an issue/question to spend time and money polling more than 2,277 people?  And you still use “LOL”?  

      • Anonymous

        In case you have reading comprehension issues, I never said that it was serious enough of an issue/question, the fact of the matter is that this base represents such a minuscule percent of US population, the comparison of voice vs text can’t be established.
        As for the use of LOL…if you think it’s an inappropriate way to convey emotion at the end of a statement in a blog, then I’m sorry to hear that. GFY

      • Bringit

        So much anger, so early in the morning.  I do happen to have a massive schlong, but not long enough to GFM.  And if you are whining and bitching about the fact that in your opinion not enough people were polled in a relatively meaningless survery – then clearly you think it’s important enough to spend time and money polling more people.  I’ll get you a tissue.  FU.

      • http://twitter.com/drypulse bryan parker

        hey my mom uses lol (tho i don’t) 8P

      • Bringit

        Is your mom @CuriouslySkeptical:disqus ?

      • Ghon345

        Call me crazy, but I suspect there is money from offering text and voice services.  So yes, it is likely worth it.

  • Anonymous

    And in other news, water is wet.

  • Anonymous

    Guess I havent grown up yet then

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chuck-Wilson/1349086575 Chuck Wilson

    I think voice is more personal then texting.

  • Sabu213

    I prefer text but if my house is on fire u can call

  • http://twitter.com/drypulse bryan parker

    woohoo, i’m not an adult!

  • Mdavid9

    I was astonished to read that the “average” 18-24 year old texts more than 100 times per day. When do they have time to do anything else, or even look up? My son age 36 complains that he can’t engage his friends in conversation anymore even if they are sitting across from him because they are always looking at their lap. Not too many years ago this situation would have made for a good, if implausible, Sci-Fi Horror TV episode. It’s a “cook book” guys and your minds and in- person relationship skills are the main entree!

  • http://twitter.com/praticuschaotic Jon Doe

    It depends. There’s a lot of short things that I don’t want to be called about and just a quick text message would more than suffice. So while I would probably answer “voice call” to a generic question regarding calling, if you got into specifics, I like texting for a lot of things where calling just isn’t as efficient.

  • Gil

    I find texting tedious and annoying–especially when it’s somebody else’s phone buzzing repeatedly in a library or train.  Do people not know how to activate the silent profile, or are they just inconsiderate?

  • Sean Reeder

    I would say it depends. Especially in the city, phone tag can be a waste of time when a simple text message exchange could have done the same job.

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