Gen Zers have a complex relationship with their mobile devices. Phone calls make many feel anxious, while some social apps are distrusted. Ephemeral messaging app Honk aims to address these points and cater to ‘Generation Mute’ with a playful, private platform that feels like chatting IRL.

Research by YouGov has found that the majority of adults in the UK prefer texting over speaking on the phone, a fact that’s especially true of younger adults. For brands, this may suggest a hesitation to engage with customer service on the phone, as people look to avoid full-blown conversations.

Just as Gen Yers relied on text-based instant messaging for years before graduating to image-focused apps like Instagram and Snapchat, Gen Z’s communication habits are steadily shifting to embrace a new medium: voice notes. But why are more teens choosing to talk rather than type?

From FaceTime and WhatsApp calls to Teams and Zoom, digital has become the main way we’re communicating during the pandemic. Canvas8 polled 1,000 Americans and spoke to eight people to find out which digital communication methods they’re using and how they feel about them.