Dougal Sutherland: Meaningful connections and conversations

As we approach the Easter break —a time typically filled with texts, chocolate, memes, and quick check-ins— new research from 2degrees suggests Kiwis may be craving something more meaningful. The study reveals a modern contradiction: Kiwis have more ways to stay in touch than ever, but two thirds say meaningful conversations are harder to come by.   While texting and social media have become the default, a phone call still has the greatest emotional impact - 77% say they feel meaningfully better after speaking to someone close to them, yet only 15% regularly pick up the phone.   Always on, rarely connected:   67% of Kiwis say meaningful conversations are harder to come by despite having more ways to stay in touch than ever   Nearly one in three (32%) are making fewer calls than five years ago    23% of Kiwis can't recall a single phone number apart from their own    How Kiwis use their phones to communicate:   68% say text-based messaging is their primary way of keeping in touch vs just 15% who default to a phone call    When asked where their thumb instinctively reaches in a spare moment, 45% said social media vs just 5% who make a call, meaning Kiwis are nine times more likely to scroll than call.   Top reasons Kiwis don’t call more:   Messaging feels easier (31%)  Not wanting to interrupt (27%)  Feeling too busy for a proper conversation (20%)  Or a phone call feeling too awkward or unexpected (19%)    The case for calling:   77% feel better after a phone call with a loved one   59% say there is someone in their life they wish they called someone more often   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.