9 reasons Boomers prefer phone calls over texts that younger people roll their eyes at

My daughter sent me a text yesterday: "Can we talk later?" Four words that would have taken thirty seconds to discuss on the phone stretched into an hour-long text exchange about scheduling that very phone call.

Meanwhile, her teenage son can coordinate an entire group project through rapid-fire messages that would make my head spin. Welcome to the great generational divide of communication.

The eye rolls are real, folks. I've seen them firsthand when I dare to suggest calling instead of texting. But after decades of navigating relationships through both mediums, I've noticed something interesting: what younger generations see as inefficient or invasive, many of us Boomers experience as connection and clarity. Let me share why.

1) We actually remember when hearing someone's voice meant everything

Before caller ID existed, before answering machines became standard, picking up the phone was an act of faith and anticipation. You never knew if it would be your best friend calling with gossip, your mother checking in, or that special someone you'd been hoping to hear from.

The voice on the other end carried emotion, nuance, and presence that no amount of emojis can replicate.

I still have a standing Sunday evening phone call with my daughter. Yes, we text throughout the week, but those Sunday conversations? That's when I really know how she's doing. That slight pause before she answers tells me more than any carefully crafted text ever could.

2) Typing takes us forever (and autocorrect is not our friend)

Here's something younger folks might not realize: many of us didn't learn to type until well into adulthood, if at all.

While you're thumb-typing at lightning speed, we're hunting and pecking our way through each message, often ending up with hilarious autocorrect fails that mortify our children.

Last week, I tried to text my neighbor about borrowing her ladder. Twenty minutes and three accidental voice recordings later, I gave up and walked next door. The entire exchange took two minutes face to face.

3) We grew up believing texts were for emergencies only

When text messaging first appeared, it cost money per message. Real money.

We trained ourselves to use texts sparingly, for urgent, brief communications only. "Running late." "Pick up milk." "Call me ASAP." The idea of having an entire conversation through texts still feels wasteful to many of us, like leaving all the lights on when you leave the house.

4) Phone calls feel more respectful of someone's time

This might sound counterintuitive to younger generations, but hear me out. When I call someone, we have a conversation with a clear beginning and end. When I text, I'm creating an obligation that hangs over someone indefinitely.

Did they see it? Are they ignoring me? Should I follow up?

After my divorce, I learned the hard way about the friends who were truly there for me versus those who just sent the occasional "thinking of you" text. The ones who called? They were the ones who showed up with casseroles and shoulders to cry on.

5) We miss too much context in written words

During my years teaching high school English, I watched countless student friendships implode over misinterpreted texts. Without tone of voice, without the ability to immediately clarify, written words can wound in ways the sender never intended.

"Fine" can mean a dozen different things depending on how it's said. But in a text? It's a minefield. Is she really fine? Is she angry? Is she being sarcastic? A two-minute phone call eliminates all that anxiety and second-guessing.

6) Small talk isn't small to us

You know what I miss most about phone calls? The wandering conversations.

The way discussing dinner plans could meander into memories of your grandmother's pot roast, which reminded you of that funny story from last Thanksgiving, which led to making actual plans to get together.

Texts are surgical strikes of information. Phone calls are the scenic route through someone's day, and sometimes that journey is more important than the destination.

7) We can't see those tiny screens anyway

Let's be honest about something nobody likes to admit: those screens are tiny, and our eyes aren't what they used to be. Even with reading glasses, extended texting sessions leave many of us with headaches and frustration.

Have you ever watched someone over sixty try to find the right emoji? It's like watching someone search for a specific grain of sand on a beach. By the time we've found the perfect laughing face, the moment has passed.

8) Phone calls create boundaries that texts demolish

There was something civilized about the understood boundaries of phone calls. You didn't call during dinner. You didn't call after 9 PM unless it was an emergency. You didn't call before 9 AM on weekends.

These unwritten rules created a rhythm to our days and respect for personal time.

Now? Texts arrive at all hours, demanding attention, creating a constant low-level anxiety. Just because we can be reached 24/7 doesn't mean we should be.

9) We remember when conversations couldn't be screenshot and shared

Perhaps this is the most significant difference. Phone conversations existed in the moment and then disappeared into memory. They required trust. You could be vulnerable, you could think out loud, you could change your mind mid-sentence.

Every text is a permanent record that can be forwarded, screenshot, or pulled up years later in an argument. Is it any wonder we prefer the ephemeral nature of spoken words?

Final thoughts

The truth is, neither form of communication is inherently better. They're just different tools for different generations with different needs. But maybe, just maybe, the next time a Boomer in your life suggests a phone call instead of a text thread, you might understand why.

We're not trying to waste your time or invade your space. We're trying to connect in the way that feels most natural to us, the way that carried us through decades of relationships, celebrations, and crises.

And who knows? You might even find there's something to be said for hearing someone's laughter instead of just reading "LOL."