Communication expert launches survey to show how different generations will talk to each other in 2025

A survey of more than 4,000 people has been published showing how different generations are communicating as we enter an era of a new generation – Generation Beta.

Experienced communication specialist, speaker and author Alastair Greener has launched an extensive survey, conducted throughout 2024 to really drill down into the different ways the generations communicate.

“I took on this project because increasingly in my work with larger companies and corporates, I’m talking about the importance of effective and impactful communication and how vital it is that we respect the different generations within any workforce.

“By providing hard data, this helps give us all a better understanding of generational differences when it comes to communication preferences. This understanding can lead to more effective communication, leading to a more productive and generationally cohesive workplace.”

Alastair, working with professional research company Dynata, interviewed more than 4,000 people asking numerous questions around communication preferences, but without revealing that there would be a focus on generational habits and behaviours.

The results confirmed some familiar patterns in the ways that the different generations communicate but also revealed some remarkable insights. Here are some highlights from that research:

• 73% of Gen Z use emojis in every message

• While Gen Z leans on digital tools, a significant number still value in-person networking and express concerns about the lack of personal connection in tech-driven communication

• 41% of Gen Z avoid phone calls, preferring digital messaging

• 97% of Gen Z use smartphones

• Gen Z and Millennials spend over 4 hours daily on social media. That’s twice that of Gen X and Boomers

• 32% of Millennials believe they read non-verbal cues ‘very well’, the highest among all generations

• WhatsApp dominates communication with 80% of adults across all generations using it.

• Older generations focus on maintaining relationships through social media, while younger generations use it for self-expression

• Younger generations (Gen Z and Alpha) favour texting, social media, and voice notes, while older generations (Baby Boomers, Silent Gen) prefer phone calls and face-to-face communication.

• Half of those working from home feel more productive there, with younger adults more inclined to office work.

• While older respondents (Baby Boomers and Silent Gen) still rely on phone calls and emails, their openness to modern tools (like WhatsApp and video conferencing) is higher than expected with 14% of Baby Boomers seeing themselves as early adopters in communication tech.

• While younger groups lead in AI usage, older generations are engaging with it too, albeit at lower rates. This indicates a broader adoption curve than commonly believed.

• A notable 73% of older Gen Alpha (ages 8–12) had smartphones by age 10 or younger, with some apps like WhatsApp already part of their communication routine. This reflects rapid tech integration into childhood, even younger than widely presumed.

• AI and Gaming Communication: 41% of Gen Z and 33% of Gen Y use AI platforms for communication, while 64% of Gen Z also engage in social interactions via online games.

The survey shows that there are many differences in how generations communicate but also some similarities. The research also suggests that even older generations can be agile in adapting to change, particularly when it comes to advances in technology allowing different tools to be used for different communication tasks.

Alastair said: “We become more understanding of one another if we take a moment to understand the context of each other’s generation. This understanding can help us to become more effective communicators. One universal truth seems to be that we all need to feel that we are being heard whether that’s at home amongst friends or at work.

“2025 marks the birth of a new generation, known as Generation Beta and by 2035, this generation will make up an estimated 16 per cent of the global population. Most of them will live well into the 22nd Century.

“It’s likely that generational ‘gaps’ will become shorter with the continuing growth of all forms of tech and AI. The world will continually appear differently to younger generations who are simply more connected with others, than those of us who were born in the last century.

“Organisations which proactively seek to support a generationally diverse workforce to communicate effectively, will be those which grow and thrive in a world where the differences between younger and older generations become be ever clearer,” Alastair said.

Alastair Greener, is a leading UK-based speaker and expert around communication skills especially around generations within workforces and organisations. He’s an experienced professional speaker and is currently writing his first book around generational communication. For more information visit https://generationallyspeaking.co.uk 

Generations: (these definitions can vary) 

Silent Generation –Born 1928 to 1945

Baby Boomers – Born 1946 to 1964

Generation X – Born 1965 – 1980

Millennials or Generation Y –Born 1981 to 1996

Generation Z – Born 1997 to 2011

Generation Alpha – Born 2012 to 2024

Generation Beta – Born 2025 to an estimated 2039.