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DALLAS, December 22, 2024 – Billionaire investor Mark Cuban says he avoids phone calls, preferring to communicate via email-a habit he attributes to his need for thoughtful, documented responses. “If we do it via email, I can search for it, always,” Cuban said in a recent TikTok video posted by Masterclass.
Cuban’s Email Preference: A Matter of Control and Comprehension
The Dallas Mavericks owner explains why he’s ‘really good’ at email, while a growing number of younger people actively avoid phone calls altogether.
- Mark Cuban, worth an estimated $6 billion, prioritizes email for its ability to facilitate complete responses and allow for easy referencing of past conversations.
- A 2024 study shows nearly 25% of Gen Z never answers phone calls, with some experiencing “telephobia” – a genuine fear of phone calls.
- The shift away from phone calls reflects a broader cultural fatigue with immediacy and a desire for more control over communication.
- Businesses are adapting to this trend, investing in alternative communication methods like SMS and web chat.
- While email offers clarity and documentation, phone calls can be more efficient for resolving issues and building rapport.
“I’ll give you more comprehensive responses than if it was via phone,” he stated. “and if we do it by phone, I’m going to forget half the stuff that we talked about because I’ve got so much going on.”
Why are so many people ditching the phone? A 2024 study by Uswitch found that almost 25% of Gen Z never answers phone calls.This hesitancy isn’t simply a matter of preference; for some, it’s rooted in a genuine fear known as “telephobia.”
Telephobia can manifest as increased heart rate, nausea, shaking, and difficulty concentrating, according to Verywell Mind.
Zoia Tarasova, an anthropologist with Canvas8, suggests this trend reflects a broader cultural shift. “It speaks to a broader fatigue with immediacy and urgency, where people have grown tired of the hassle culture and obsession with efficiency,” Tarasova said. “People are quietly rebelling against this immediacy by taking their time to respond to those calls.”
The impact of this communication shift is being felt in the business world.Casey Halloran,CEO and cofounder of Namu Travel,noted a meaningful generational divide among his travel agents. Younger employees register fewer than 50% of incoming calls compared to their older colleagues. Halloran said his company has invested in training, incentives, and even a business psychologist to address the issue, but is now considering prioritizing SMS and web chat.
The Pros and Cons of Email vs. Phone
Research from recruiting firm Robert Walters shows that over half of younger professionals prefer instant messaging or email for getting things done, viewing phone calls as inefficient. This sentiment is often summarized as the “it coudl have been an email” mentality.
“Younger generations are less inclined to spend hours in a restaurant or cafe when they can have a speedy discussion online,” said Emilie Vignon, associate director of Robert Walters California, in a 2024 study. However, Vignon also cautioned against relying solely on digital communication.
“Face-to-face interactions allow for meaningful connections and provide an opportunity for non-verbal communication cues, building trust and rapport with clients and colleagues,” Vignon added.”The subtleties of body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice contribute to a deeper understanding and connection that frequently enough cannot be fully conveyed through text or even video chats.”
Other research from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Chicago, along with studies by McKinsey & Co., indicates that phone calls can often resolve issues more quickly than email, notably considering that workers spend nearly one-third of their time managing email. A 2022 study from DePaul University researcher David J. bouvier also found that email facilitates easy data sharing and can reduce stress.
Ultimately, Cuban’s preference for email isn’t about generational quirks-it’s about control and clarity.
