Gen Z Brits are sending 12–minute–long voice notes, but stop listening to those sent by their friends three and a half minutes in, according to a new study.
Research by mobile network Talkmobile found four in five Brits (80 percent) never listen to the very end, with older phone users being the least patient when it comes to the WhatsApp audio feature.
Gen Z adults aged 18–27 use the voice note feature the most, sending the highest volume and length of audio messages.
But based on their average listening time, two thirds of their voice note goes unheard by their friends.
Millenials aged 28 to 43 are similar – recording notes around 10 minutes long, but listening to just three and a half minutes at most.
In comparison, baby boomers aged 60 to 78 send the fewest and shortest voice notes.
Their voice notes run to an average of two minutes and 18 seconds – and listening back, they’re also the quickest to cut off an audio clip, ending it if it is any longer than two and a half minutes.
It does mean, however, that older users are likely to listen to a message in full.
The average listening time for Brits is three minutes and six seconds, suggesting the listener loses all interest if the message is any longer.
The study also found people are more likely to listen to a voice note from their mother (44 per cent) or child (43 per cent), and were least likely to listen to one from a boss (21 per cent) or colleague (15 per cent).
Talkmobile spokesperson Stuart Wilson said: ‘A short, snappy voice–note is the ideal way to get your message across – anything longer, just give them a call.
‘At Talkmobile, we believe conversation should be a two–way communication because it connects people in real–time.
‘We support all forms of communication, whether it’s a WhatsApp, email, SMS or even a classic phone call, we’ll support our customers in whatever way works best for them.
‘There’s no need to text or voice note, and await a reply – our advisors jump straight into solving any issue, answering the average call in less than 20 seconds, far quicker than a voice–note.’
WhatsApp voice notes were introduced in 2013, with around seven billion audio messages sent worldwide every day.
A previous study by Talkmobile earlier this year found Gen Z send an average of 23 voice notes a week, more than three a day. Their main reason for recording audio clips – according to half (48 percent) of youngsters polled, is they ‘save time’.
Four in 10 Gen Z Brits prefer voice notes because they are ‘easier than typing out a message’ (40 percent) while a third (37 percent) say they simply ‘can’t be bothered’ to text.
Meanwhile, Britain’s post–war ‘Baby Boom’ generation – aged 60 to 78 – are the least likely to send an audio clip of themselves, with fewer than two in 10 (18 percent) using the feature.
A quarter (25 percent) of Boomers believe voice notes are ‘a waste of their time’ while two in 10 (19 percent) ‘can’t stand them’, adding: ‘if you can’t be bothered to text, don’t send a voice note’.
