Generational communication styles: How Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z prefer to connect

Just as earlier generations used rotary phones and touch-tone calling (both of which are making a retro comeback) before digital devices graced their palms, generational differences in communication are shaped by the technologies and social norms we grew up with.

Boomers and Gen X, who grew up in the pre-digital era, may have distinctly different communication styles from Millennials, born when digital communication was a part of their lives from a young age. And this group differs yet again from the Gen Z communication style.

As the first digital natives, Gen Z has never known a world without the internet in their pocket. They may smirk at their grandparents’ digital communication efforts (although even people in their eighties and beyond have become proficient at visual communication via FaceTime and Zoom) but for digital natives, it’s just life.

Below, we’ll take a look at how each generation’s communication style is shaped by the context in which they lived.

What matters most, regardless of communication style

So while reducing screen time is an important goal, authentic communication prevails—even among younger users. An Ooma survey revealed that human connection is paramount across generations.

When given the option, Gen Z, like older cohorts, may prefer a direct, personal phone conversation above all other means of communication. In fact, 35 percent of Gen Z chose a phone call due to its speed, while email was the least liked due to slow response time. If they need to contact a health professional or an accountant, or book a hotel room, for example, Gen Z finds a phone call to be most expedient.

The same is true for their grandparents. The distinction is, while this group has heavily adopted digital communication—89% of those 50+ own a smartphone, and 59% own tablets—their preferred communication style has long been a phone call. Overall, they use tech to stay connected with family, supervise grandkids’ screen usage and enjoy the odd video or two.

Communication preferences in practice

Business is where cross-generational communication styles often clash, as different generations interact more often, potentially creating misunderstandings and missed opportunities. However, it is fertile ground for learning each generation’s differences and similarities.

As might be expected, older workers may prefer phone calls, meetings, and email. Younger workers, especially Gen Z, may eschew email communication as archaic, preferring to direct message or text a client or coworker as a “soft” outreach prior to a phone call.

However, according to a UC Berkeley article on intergenerational communication at work, while each generation has its own communication style and preferences, there is also a great deal of overlap that can be effectively managed to create more harmonious cross-generational relationships, both at work and in general. While Facebook is considered a legacy platform, it’s also a cross-generational bridge: Millennials, Gen X and Boomers all use it to connect with family, friends and their local community (through Facebook Groups and Marketplace). Facebook even reaches 77 percent of Gen Z.

The same is true of YouTube, which ranks as the #1 or #2 most-used social media platform for Gen Z (91%), Millennials (90%), and Gen X (83%). Yet YouTube, founded in 2005, is also the most-used social platform among the youngest digital cohort, Gen Alpha (2012-2024), by a wide margin (68%). Gen Alpha not only watches long-form content but increasingly turns to YouTube Shorts for meme-length entertainment. For Gen Alpha, YouTube is simply a medium that’s always been there, like television for older generations.

Here’s how and why each generation communicates as it does, based on research from Purdue Global:

• Baby Boomers (1946-1964). Their influences included radio, black and white TV (most homes did not have color TV until the 1960s or later), and family dinner table conversations. They also lived through the rise of the drive-in diners and movies as popular hang-out spots. It makes sense that face-to-face interactions, or picking up the phone, are their most familiar and comfortable communication tools. However, they’re also active on Instagram, which didn’t launch until 2010. Boomers may be late adopters and use new tech in old ways (is Grandpa watching old George Carlin bits on reels or is he about to post “hi how are you” as his Facebook status?) but they enjoy what the digital world offers.
• Generation X (1965-1980). Defined by historic societal shifts in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Watergate and the Civil Rights Movement, Gen X grew up learning to value independence and skepticism while appreciating efficiency. Having lived during the transition from analog to digital, they treat email as the standard because it offers a practical, efficient and reliable trail, avoiding the constant interruption of IMs. However, they still prefer face-to-face interactions and phone calls. Every ’80s romcom or high school movie they grew up with—from The Goonies to Pretty in Pink—is filled with people going out, having adventures and making landline phone calls. Gen X’s preferences reflect that.
• Millennials (1981-1996). Currently the largest sector of the workforce, they crave work/life balance (there’s a reason they’re referred to as The Burnout Generation) and are comfortable with technology and multitasking. Millennials popularized the catchphrase, “This meeting could have been an email.” They grew up with texting and social media, which are built around shorter, more efficient messages, so they prefer texting and messaging. But cold-calling over FaceTime? That’s a no.
• Gen Z (1997-2012). Digital natives, Gen Z grew up with FaceTime, images and video, from Snapchat to TikTok to video calls as the norm, which may explain why they prefer receiving information in various formats. In counterpoint to their older colleagues, Gen Z likes cold-call FaceTiming, even though they prefer soft outreach before calling clients or coworkers. Nevertheless, they also crave real human interaction, as the Ooma survey showed, which is partly due to COVID keeping them isolated for such a long time at a critical age. Many of their school or college experiences were remote, depriving them of opportunities to meet and hang out with peers in person, causing them to seek it out more later in life. A core insight into the Gen Z communication style is to present information in multifaceted ways: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and always succinct. An emoji or GIF might communicate reams of information in a simple visual.

Intergenerational communication styles in practice

If you’re living in a multigenerational household, you no doubt already have deep experience in cross-generational communication styles. Regardless of the smart devices that may be charging on the kitchen counter or buried beneath a couch cushion, there’s one super-smart device that will benefit everyone in the house: a multigenerational phone.

An Ooma household phone is a screen-free VoIP option designed for multigenerational households. It’s corded so you always know where it is and designed to work over the internet with address-based 911 service, so first responders know exactly where to go. This cross-generational phone also provides powerful call blocking for protection from scammers, keeping both kids and grandparents safe. It’s a great addition to any household.

For Millennial parents and Boomer grandparents, there is a joy in introducing this next generation to joy of talking on the phone. The modern landline alternative for kids, MyPhone by Ooma, is designed to do just that, while also providing safeguarding tools and features parents can use to keep their child protected while they chat.

Go on now, scoot. The phone’s ringing, and it’s for you.