Consultant offers help for Gen Z’s phone conversation phobia
Those who fall into the Gen Z age category all have one thing in common. It’s not that they all still live with mom and dad, or mom or dad, or maybe mom who just transitioned from being dad, or something. Although all of those are most likely true too. No, it’s the ubiquitous smartphone that has become an appendage for Gen Z. They eat with it, sleep with it, and bathe with it. The one thing they don’t do with it is…talk.
Helen McMurphy is a phone consultant. She helps Gen Z get beyond their fear of communicating on their smartphones verbally. You know, actually having conversations by speaking words to another human being.
“This is quite a challenge for Gen Z,” McMurphy said. “Phone phobia is a real problem for this age group. Many haven’t spoken real words to other people for years. Fortunately, I have been able to make breakthroughs with some of my clients.”
Nikki Malamute is one of McMurphy’s clients. Her parents hired McMurphy to work with Nikki so that she might at some point in her life be able to get a job. This, despite her having a college degree in communications.
“Helen has helped me so much,” Malamute said. “I can now converse with some people without even thinking about what emoji to use.”
McMurphy allowed us to listen in on a practice phone conversation that Malamute had with Zoe Freemont, one of her friends.
Nikki: Hello.
Zoe: Uh, what?
Nikki: Hello.
Zoe: Like, uh, what are you doing? Are you calling me?
Nikki: Yes, I’m calling you.
Zoe: Why?
Nikki: To, you know, have a conversation.
Zoe: A what?
Nikki: A conversation.
Zoe: What’s that?
Nikki: It’s like what your parents try to do with you.
Zoe: They stopped having conversations with me when I was 15.
Nikki: (Laughs)
Zoe: What was that?
Nikki: I laughed.
Zoe: Huh?
Nikki: You know, LOL.
Zoe: That’s just dumb.
Nikki: Huh?
Zoe: Can’t you just text me?
Nikki: But…I’m driving.
Zoe: So. Like that’s ever stopped you before?
Nikki: Well, no, but I’m working on communicating. You know, using words and stuff. My parents think it’ll help me get a job.
Zoe: A what?
Nikki: A job.
Zoe: What’s that?
Nikki: (Laughs)
Zoe: Did you just do that again?
Nikki: Do what?
Zoe: That laugh thing.
Nikki: Uh, yeah, I guess.
Zoe: Just text me an emoji so I can understand you.
Nikki: Uh, okay.
McMurphy acknowledged there is still a lot of work to do with Nikki. Fortunately, she said Nikki’s parents have paid for 12 more sessions. Zoe, on the other hand, geesh.