Bad call! Miserable millennials least likely to call family on Christmas Day but Gen Z WILL pick up the phone - here is why
Miserable millennials are more likely to send a WhatsApp message to their family than speak over the phone this Christmas.
Miserable millennials are more likely to send a WhatsApp message to their family than speak over the phone this Christmas.
According to new research by Vodafone UK, the generation that grew up with Nokia phones is leaning on typing over talking to spread festive cheer this year, with nearly half (49 per cent) of Brits aged 28 to 43 planning to ping loved ones a text.
While Millennials might be hitting send rather than dialing, their tech habits set them apart from younger and older generations.
Despite texting being the preferred method of communication for Gen Z, they are most likely to opt for a video call to wish loved ones a Happy Christmas.
Meanwhile, the Baby Boomer generation, champions of tradition, are sticking to classic phone calls this year.
The survey also found that connectivity is central to Christmas in the modern world, with more than half of Brits admit they struggle to imagine the holiday without it.
Besides staying in touch, the top ways Brits use phones, tablets and laptops at Christmas include shopping, finding discounts, social media - and tracking when to take their turkey out of the oven.
For some, tech plays an even bigger role - over two in five parents say digital tools help make Christmas more magical, from streaming festive music and videos to tracking Santas sleigh.
Miserable millennials are more likely to send a WhatsApp message to their family than speak over the phone this Christmas (stock image)
However, Britons most appreciate the opportunity to reconnect and get together with loved ones, with over two thirds valuing hearing from loved ones more than Christmas dinner (47 per cent), presents (23 per cent), or family games (18 per cent).
But not everyone is feeling the digital warmth this Christmas, as nearly half of Brits report experiencing loneliness during the holidays, citing reasons like not having loved ones nearby or lacking the skills or means to connect digitally.
According to the study, a third of Brits will be spending this Christmas apart from their loved ones, for reasons such as being with a partners family or working.
This includes a quarter (24 per cent) of both Gen Z and Millennials who will be spending their first Christmas away from their parents.
Nicki Lyons from Vodafone UK said: Connecting with loved ones is a hugely important part of the festive season and if you arent together in person, technology becomes central to making that connection.
But for those without access to this, due to a lack of skills or the means to get online, the simple act of having a voice call with a faraway family member or messaging a friend at work is out of reach.
The research comes as Vodafone announced it has helped three million digitally excluded people and businesses cross the digital divide as part of its everyone.connected initiative.
Meanwhile, a study has shown young Britons want to ditch turkey from their Christmas dinner along with other much-loved festive traditions.
Despite texting being the preferred method of communication for Gen Z , they are most likely to opt for a video call to wish loved ones a Happy Christmas (stock image)
Gen Z are keen for a meat-alternative on December 25 and would also rather replace an after dinner cheese board, the research by Costa Coffee has revealed.
Despite 68% of Brits stating that their households enjoy the same traditional Christmas meal, the findings show that younger and older generations have very different views about Christmas food, treats and even baubles.
Its due to the younger generations changing attitudes on booze, with an increasing number of young people reducing their alcohol intake or adopting teetotal lifestyles.
Though revellers will wave goodbye to alcohol, they can expect to enjoy a solid nights sleep in its place.
Mistletoe is also a firm no-no because, according to renowned auctioneer Nick Mr Mistletoe Champion, whose mistletoe sales have plummeted in recent years, young people arent interested in kissing under the mistletoe anymore.
