Have you ever been serenaded by the “peaceful” sounds of every notification on your mum’s phone, which (despite being right next to them) is set at the loudest possible volume? Well, it turns out you are not alone!
New research commissioned by Vodafone shows a huge difference between the generations, with 96% of Baby Boomers using ringtones compared to 72% of Gen Z and 68% of Gen Y.
According to new data by Vodafone:
· Generation Boomer rings true as older Aussies are more likely to max the volume: Over a third of Boomers (34%) revealed they always have their phone on max volume while only 5% have it switched to silent all the time.
· Younger generations do not need a ringtone: Almost half of Gen Z (46%) and Gen Y (45%) say they do not need a ringtone because they spend so much time on their phone, in comparison to just 7% of Baby Boomers.
· Millennials and Zers go mute when it comes to calls: 36% ofGen Z and 35% of Gen Y confess they usually have their devices switched to silent, admitting they do so to avoid calls! More than 2 in 5 (42%) Gen Z say no one calls anymore and that they communicate through messages, social media, and voice notes. While two thirds (66%) of Gen Z consider phone calls important, the majority (84%) consider text messages a more important way to communicate.
· It turns out purchasing ringtones is not a thing of the past: Despite over half of Gen Y (58%) saying that they used to enjoy buying and changing ringtones back in the day, some are still choosing to change up their tones (55%). Three quarters of Aussies (75%) use default Apple/Android tones, while 76% of Gen-Y stick to the built-in options. However, 24% of Gen Y download or purchase popular songs, TV/Movies, or custom ringtones with 21% saying they have purchased a ringtone in the last 12 months.
· These are some ringtones and sounds that will continue to exist until the end of time: No, Crazy Frog won’t be ding ding dinging its way back into the charts anytime soon, and though it might be one of the most popular (39%) and annoying (49%) ringtones of all time, it’s no shock the original and simply unforgettable Nokia Ringtone (that lives “rent free” in our head), was voted most popular alongside the default iPhone Marimba Ringtone and just like the hum of the pesky flies, Mosquito Ringtone the most annoying (71%). Ahead of May 4th (Star Wars Day) this weekend, 1 in 2 Gen X and Baby Boomers reported the Star Wars Ringtone was their most popular ringtone of all time, while only 2 in 5 Gen Z and Gen Y claimed the same.