iphone-child-thumbnailKids get mobile phones earlier and earlier these days – I remember my daughter, when she was around 10,  being somewhat disappointed when clearly fishing to get her first phone, asked me what age I was when I first got a mobile phone.  27 wasn’t the answer she was hoping for.

It’s ironic then that kids don’t actually use their phones to phone people.

In a recent Ofcom report, 3% of 12-15 year olds communication time was talking on the phone, instead spending a whopping 94% engaged in text-based messaging.  Read their report here.

This is a trend we’ve been tracking for a while, with several clients reporting that young starters ‘seem uncomfortable using the phone’.

I read a few years ago of a case in the US where three 11 year old boys found themselves trapped in a drain, unable to escape.  All three had mobile phones in their pocket, but instead of calling for help from the emergency services, or even calling their parents, instead they posted on Facebook to raise the alarm.

It’s not surprising then that the Institute of Engineering and Technology are today recommending that the 999 emergency service works out text-based ways of reporting emergencies.  Read more here.

What are the implication for your business?

How will your future customers (Gen Z) want to engage with your organisation?

What does it mean for contacting customers? And cold calling? And marketing?

Will future employees have voice-based communication skills?

This is yet another example of how technology is changing the way we behave and a reminder that leaders and businesses need to change too.

If you’d like to inspire and enable your leaders to better engage their teams by embracing the future of work, then call Simon on 020 3488 0464 or email simon@simonwalker.org

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