The world is evolving to become more and more digital. But while our technology undeniably has many benefits, it also traps us in a kind of constant connectivity that many want yet struggle to hide from.

There are many reasons why people wish to be more ‘off the grid.’ And when one person online started a discussion about this, stating that Gen Zers keep their phones on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode 24/7 because of the anxiety that comes with having to answer a call, the responses came piling in. Scroll down to read what people said!

More info: X (Twitter)

Being constantly connected comes with a lot of benefits, but it also creates specific problems of its own that many try to avoid

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A man shared that some members of Gen Z keep their phones on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode all the time as answering calls gives them anxiety

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Not so long ago, Max Burns, a Democratic Strategist, posted on X (Twitter), sharing how he had just learned that some people from Gen Z keep their phones on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ setting all the time, claiming that it’s all so they don’t have to face the anxiety of answering the phone.

It didn’t take long for this thread to ‘catch on fire’ because while it received only a little over 1,100 likes, it was commented on nearly 700 times and has been viewed more than a whopping 5.3 million times.

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Many people from various generations joined the discussion, saying that it’s not only a Gen Z thing

Many different people from various generations joined the discussion to share their opinions about the matter, and it turned out that having your phone set on ‘Do Not Disturb’ 24/7 is not really just a Gen Z thing.

People from nearly all currently living generations revealed that they do this all the time. However, their reasons for it were not always the same, even if they were similar.

The most popular answer among the discussion’s participants was that most calls nowadays come from scammers, fraudsters, and political spammers. In addition, many people said that the loud and frequent notifications that come with a phone not being set on silent can be very distracting and disturbing, especially during the night time.

At the same time, others revealed that they simply don’t have the time to be available 24/7 and reserve phone calls only for those whom they actually hold important and want to talk with. Connecting to this, one user also pointed out that the anxiety part is likely not due to being afraid to pick up the phone but rather because of being overwhelmed when you’re plugged in and available all the time.

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People also argued that they do this not only because of anxiety but due to not wanting to be constantly reachable by people they don’t want to talk to, too

To get a little bit more of a professional opinion into this whole mix, Bored Panda got in touch with Dr. Patrice Berry, a clinical psychologist and an educational content creator on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, who destigmatizes mental health and shares her knowledge with people who may not have access to other resources.

The expert began by saying that each generation and each individual are very different, and while there are stereotypes for how these generations prefer to communicate, they’re not always true. 

However, when talking about generations, these observations do hold some truth, even if they don’t apply to everyone. “Gen Z loves things to be quick and speedy, and texting is perfect for having instant conversations without the hassle of long phone calls,” said the psychologist, explaining how texting gives you more time for responding and allows you to carry on multiple conversations at once.

But with the fast pace that our world is in, it’s no surprise that anxiety comes along, too. “Anxiety expert Lynn Lyons talks about how anxiety wants certainty and control. Our world has evolved faster than our brains, and while Gen Z has a lot of information at their fingertips, our world is full of uncertainty and things that are out of our control,” said the expert, emphasizing that learning skills and tools that can help to cope with this uncertainty are essential.

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Yet, when it comes to phone calls, there can be multiple reasons for it. “For some people, receiving a phone call puts them on the spot versus being able to respond when they are ready. Texting can be done at your own pace and on your own schedule. Texting also allows you to put in emojis or memes to communicate your thoughts. There are some people who also prefer sending voice memos versus having a live call as well,” summarized Dr. Berry.

Making a conclusion out of this is not a difficult task. We live in a digital world where everything and everyone is in some way connected. The benefits it brings are obvious, but being reachable all the time can really take a toll on one’s mental health, as well as consume a large amount of their ever-so-valuable time.

While having your phone set to “Do Not Disturb” won’t fix all of these issues, it might just help by letting you take back some of that privacy. Therefore, doing this seems perfectly reasonable, and it comes as no surprise that more and more people choose to do this.

What’s your opinion on this matter? Do you also choose to silence your phone completely, or do you prefer to always be available? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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