“This could have been a text”

Is it better to call or text? Well, there’s no answer that fits every situation. Sometimes it’s better to call, as it’s usually easier to show emotion/tone, and also ensures you talk to the other person immediately instead of waiting for a reply. Texting, however, can more easily and discreetly be done in public, and comes with other benefits such as being able to attach images and saving a history of the conversation to refer to later. Both have their advantages and weaknesses, so the answer to the question “which is better?” is usually this: it depends.

Depends on what? Well, the most important to consider is the urgency of the conversation. Do you need a response from the other person right now? Or can it wait until they have a second to check their phone? I think my grandfather on my mom’s side put it the best way I’ve heard: “Calls are for right-now conversations, texts are for in-a-bit conversations.” Of course, this will also depend on who you are trying to reach and what they’re doing. For example, if they’re at work, school, or another situation where they can’t just drop everything to answer the phone, it may be better to text so you don’t bother them or their customers and coworkers. Conversely, if something is very important, it may be better to call for this exact reason because they may not be able to check their phone for a while. I can think of several times at work where I’ve been in the middle of a long sale with a customer and I’ve felt my phone go off, and I didn’t get a chance to check it for over an hour.

Another important factor to consider is the type of conversation. We’ve all heard the phrase “this could have been a phonecall/email/text/carrier pigeon” in response to a meeting. A similar concept applies here. If you only have one or two quick questions, it may be better to send a text even if it may be easier to call. This ensures neither person involved has to set aside a section of their day just to talk for 20 seconds. If the conversation needs to be referred back to, it may also be better to text so that both parties have a record of everything that was said. It also allows for easier group chats and sending images.

Additionally, many conversations now happen over social media such as Snapchat, DIscord, and Messenger instead of traditional messaging that comes with your phone plan. This has several benefits, one being that your conversation will continue across devices, instead of being wiped if you get a new phone or use a computer for messaging. Apps like Discord save your messages in the cloud, so they’re not only there on an device, but you can continue the exact same conversation between devices. Other social media apps, such as Twitter and Bluesky allow you to browse the app like normal, then easily send a dm to anyone who’s posts or comment you see. This is an easy way for people to connect, and then move to dms and get to know each other better.

In conclusion, both phonecalls and texts have benefits in certain scenarios, but often texting is a better option, mainly due to the convenience of being able to reply whenever you want and not needing to set aside time and find a quiet place to talk.

“samsung phone” by Sean MacEntee is licensed under CC BY 2.0.