Kiwis are Communicating More but Feeling Less Connected - The Humble Phone Call Could Be the Answer

A nationwide study has unveiled a modern paradox: while New Zealanders are spending more time on their phones than ever before, over two-thirds say meaningful conversations are becoming harder to come by. New research^[1] commissioned by 2degrees shows that while messaging and social media dominate how we stay in touch, a simple phone call is still far more likely to leave us feeling connected - yet it’s the one thing we’re doing less of.

The nationwide study, commissioned as part of 2degrees’ Fairer Phones Project, found:

• Nearly seven in ten Kiwis (68%) say their primary way of keeping in touch is text-based messaging, whether by SMS or a social platform, compared to just 15% who default to a phone call
• One quarter of Kiwis (23%) can't recall a single phone number apart from their own
• 77% say they feel meaningfully better after a phone call with someone close to them, rising to 81% for Gen Z
• 67% believe that meaningful conversations are harder to come by, despite having more ways to stay in touch than ever before, rising to 71% for Gen Z
• 59% say there is someone in their life they wish they called more often, jumping to 77% for Gen Z

The findings highlight a clear gap between how we communicate and how we actually want to feel. It is a paradox felt most acutely by Gen Z, the first truly digital generation and yet the one the research shows most craves genuine human connection.

“The modern phone is a technological marvel, but it has so many functions and so many ways to communicate, that sometimes we don’t find the best way to connect. It’s easy to get pulled into messages, feeds and notifications, when what we really need is a proper conversation,” says Zac Summers, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at 2degrees.

“A simple phone call cuts through that. It’s still one of the most powerful ways to connect. Turns out the original function of our phones is the one that does the best job of connecting us with others,” adds Summers.

The study found that convenience plays a major role in the shift away from calling: messaging feels quicker and easier (31%), while others worry about interrupting (27%) or feel too busy for a proper conversation (20%). And when asked where their thumb instinctively reaches during a spare moment on their phone, nearly half of Kiwis (45%) said social media, followed by reading news (15%) and playing a game (14%) while just 5% said they’d call a loved one.

Research shows that even a short conversation^[2] can make a difference, with even a brief phone call able to boost our mood and leave us feeling more connected to the people who matter to us. Clinical psychologist and wellbeing expert Dougal Sutherland agrees.

“We’re constantly in touch, but not always in ways that feel meaningful. A phone call creates a different kind of connection because it's more present, more human,” says Sutherland.

“We often assume we need a long stretch of time to properly catch up, so we put it off. But even eight minutes talking to a loved one over the phone can meaningfully improve your mood and sense of connection. The irony is that most of us will spend that same time scrolling, when a phone call would have left us feeling so much better," he adds.

Introducing Ring Ring – the wearable that does less, but means more

In response, 2degrees has launched Ring Ring – a competition to win a limited-edition thumb ring engraved with the phone number of someone you care about. At a time when nearly one in four Kiwis can’t recall a single number apart from their own, it puts a number that matters right in front of you.

Designed as a playful take on wearable tech, it has no battery, no Bluetooth, and no notifications – just a simple purpose: to interrupt the scroll and prompt a call. Part conversation starter, part commitment device.

A limited run of rings has been released, with x10 available for Kiwis to win – for themself or someone they love and want to hear from more.

“Wearables today track everything – sleep, steps, stress,” says Summers. “We wanted to create something that doesn’t track you but gently nudges you towards something better. It’s really a way to get people talking – about actually talking.”

Because while technology continues to evolve, the most powerful feature of any phone may still be the simplest one: the phone call.

For more information, tips and to enter the draw to win a Ring Ring, visit  www.2degrees.nz/fairerphonesproject/ringring. 

^[1] Research commissioned by 2degrees and conducted by Ideally. A nationally representative sample of 830 New Zealanders aged 18+ was surveyed in March 2026 via an online survey.

^[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/02/well/phone-call-happiness-challenge.html