“I Can Hear You Breathing…” – The Gen Z Call Culture Employers Don’t Understand
Have you ever picked up the phone, said “hello,” and been met with… absolute silence? No scammer. No heavy breather. Just a member of Gen Z quietly waiting for you to speak first.
Welcome to the brave new world of Gen Z phone etiquette, where starting a call with “hello” is officially optional. According to a viral article in the New York Post, a growing number of employers are completely baffled — and frankly, frustrated — by what they call “radio silence” phone calls from younger employees.
Turns out, Gen Z isn’t ghosting you. They’re just being… Gen Z.
What’s Really Happening: The Numbers Behind the Breathing Brigade
Let’s break it down with some jaw-dropping (and slightly hilarious) stats:
25% of 18–24-year-olds say it's perfectly normal to not say hello when they answer a call.
Employers are paying up to ₹2.5 lakh (~$3,100) to phone etiquette coaches like The Phone Lady to fix this habit.
Many Gen Zers believe texting > calling, and unannounced phone calls are considered borderline disrespectful.
Yes, we live in a world where a cold call is the new jump scare.
Why Gen Z is Not Wrong (and Why That’s Funny)
Before we jump into judgment mode, let’s admit one thing — Gen Z has a point.
They grew up texting, not calling. If your first “phone” was a Nokia, you probably learned to call before you could spell. But if your first device was an iPad, calling is basically FaceTime without the face. Not cool.
They’ve mastered digital boundaries. One Gen Zer told their coach, “If someone calls me out of the blue, they assume their time matters more than mine.” Mic. Drop.
They don’t talk on speakerphone in public. Say what you will, but their silent-answering style may actually reduce train ride chaos.
At the Alma Mater Store, we think this silent trend is both funny and fascinating. Honestly, we kind of love it.
Campus Life + Gen Z Call Culture = Comedy Gold
Let’s play this out on a college campus:
Scene 1: The coordinator of your class hoodie order calls you to confirm sizes.
You answer the phone.
You say nothing.
You breathe.
They panic and double-check if they called the right number.
Scene 2: You FaceTime your friend at 2 AM.
You don’t say hello.
You just blink twice.
They know what it means: “Come to the chai tapri.”
Iconic.
At Alma Mater Store, we’ve seen this firsthand. Group t shirts orders? They come in via DMs, not calls. Customer queries? Voice notes or it didn’t happen. Gen Z has a language of their own, and it’s mostly silent.
What This Means for Coordinators, Class Reps, and Hoodie Heroes
If you’re handling your college merch order and wondering why half your batchmates are ghosting your calls, now you know:
They aren’t ghosting you. They’re waiting.
For what? For you to talk first. Every. Single. Time.
Here’s how to win:
- Send a text first: “Hey, I’m calling you for your hoodie size. Please pick up.”
- Don’t expect small talk: Get straight to the point — “XL or L?”Use memes and emojis liberally: Nothing says “order confirmed” like a meme.
Merch Ideas Inspired by Gen Z's Phone Culture
Naturally, we couldn’t resist.
Here are some Gen Z-inspired T-shirt ideas we’re definitely pitching:
“If You Can Hear Me Breathing, Say Hello”
“Calls? I Thought We Were Texting…”
“Your Time ≠ My Time” — Gen Z Etiquette 101
“Radio Silence is My Love Language”
And of course, tote bags that say: “I Left Your Call on Read, But I Love You”
Because if there’s one thing Gen Z does better than anyone else, it’s owning the chaos with aesthetic.
Alma Mater Store’s Take: We’re Not Just Merch, We’re Meme Culture IRL
Whether you’re team “I text first” or team “Just say hello,” we at Alma Mater Store know one thing: every generation brings its own vibe to campus culture.
And Gen Z? You bring:
Chaos,
Confidence,
Cool,
…and Confusing Call Etiquette.
We love it. We live for it. And we print it on cotton hoodies with matching badges.
TL;DR (Because You’re Gen Z and Scrolling Fast)
Q: Why are Gen Z phone calls silent?
A: They’re waiting for you to speak first. It’s a vibe.
Q: Is this annoying to employers?
A: 1000%. They're hiring “phone coaches” to fix it.
Q: Should I freak out?
A: No. Just text first. Or get a T-shirt about it.
Q: Can I get cool Gen Z merch that understands my life?
A: Yes, only at Alma Mater Store.
Strong CTA Time: Your Voice May Be Silent, But Your Style Shouldn't Be
Your hoodie should speak louder than your phone calls.
Browse our Custom T shirt Collection now and let your merch do the talking:
Shop Now