Backgrounder: What is telephobia?

Do you feel panicked each time your phone rings? If so, there’s a class for that. U.K.-based Nottingham College recently began offering “Phone Anxiety Training” for Gen Z employees who suffer from telephobia, the fear of making or receiving telephone calls. Strange as it may sound, telephobia is no joke: It afflicts millions of young people whose reliance on instant messaging, experts say, can hinder a vital communication skill and affect job prospects.

What are the symptoms? In severe cases, telephobia may be accompanied by nausea and increased heart rate. More commonly, it involves a general anxiety about phone calls. “Getting a call is like someone breaking into your brain unannounced and demanding a pop quiz on life,” one Norway-based X user posted last September. “Text me like a normal person so I can draft and redraft my response 12 times in peace!” Similar sentiments are prominent among members of Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), although telephobia occurs among older generations too. Surveys suggest at least half of millennials and at least a quarter of baby boomers feel anxious when the phone rings.

Is the condition becoming more widespread? While phone calls won’t become a thing of the past anytime soon, many young people prefer alternative methods of communication. European network provider Sky Mobile in 2023 found that roughly a third of Gen Z respondents rarely made a phone call, and a quarter purposely ignored calls. A 2024 study from Uswitch, a London-based price comparison website, reported 61% of young people would rather text than call.

Why are young people developing telephobia? In a blog post last year, Nicholas Farrell, a psychologist with online therapy provider NOCD, attributed the growing prevalence partly to the rise of instant messaging. Texting has become the top mobile activity for 83% of consumers. Farrell explained why many people find live calls uncomfortable: “Phone calls require real-time responses that leave little room for the measured contemplation that texts or emails allow.”

Is telephobia a sign of mental health problems? According to Farrell, an overwhelming aversion to phone calls could indicate a severe social anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder. Rates of anxiety increased by 17% between 2019 and 2022, and roughly 40 million American adults suffer anxiety disorders—a category encompassing phobias, social anxiety, and OCD. Still, Farrell believes most telephobia sufferers are simply unaccustomed to making phone calls.

Does telephobia affect workplace ­performance? In a 2024 survey of 2,000 U.K. employees, telephone answering service Face for Business found that more than 40% of workers had avoided job-related calls due to telephobia.

What is Nottingham College doing to address the problem? After faculty members noticed a growing number of U.K. employers conducting interviews over the phone, the school added Phone Anxiety Training to its offerings. Marketed toward young employees, the class incorporates role-playing scenarios and teaches professional best practices.

Beyond taking a college course, how can young adults overcome their phone fears? Some experts recommend breathing exercises or cognitive behavioral therapy. For Christians, prayer or Scripture meditation may help. Many medical websites also recommend tackling phone fears simply by making low-stakes calls or dialing a close friend.