Only 19% of Americans generally pick sup cellphone calls from unknown numbers; women, White adults, folder adults, higher-income adults less likely to do so % of U.S. adults who say they generally when an unknown number calls their cellphone
Americans just aren’t picking up the phone much anymore. Eight-in-ten Americans say they don’t generally answer their cellphone when an unknown number calls, according to newly released findings from a Pew Research Center web survey of U.S. adults conducted July 13-19, 2020.
But not all Americans are equally likely to ignore these calls. While, at most, a quarter of Americans from any demographic group say they generally answer the phone for an unknown number – and 19% of U.S. adults overall say they do so – men are more likely than women to answer the phone. And though much has been made of younger adults’ distaste for phone conversations, the survey finds that Americans ages 18 to 29 are more likely to take calls from unknown numbers than those in older age groups. In addition, Hispanic and Black adults are more likely than White adults to say they generally pick up for a number they don’t recognize, as are those living in households with lower income levels compared with those from middle- and higher-income households.
The majority of Americans (67%) say their general practice is to not answer the phone when an incoming call is from an unknown number but to check a voicemail if one is left. The share of Americans who say they generally ignore any voicemail left after not answering a call is relatively low (14%) but does vary by gender, race and ethnicity, and income level.
Only 19% of Americans generally pick sup cellphone  | calls from unknown numbers; women, White adults,  | folder adults, higher-income adults less likely to do so  | % of U.S. adults who say they generally when an unknown number calls  | their cellphone  | Do not answer the  | phone: net 80  | Check  | Ignore  | Answer the  | voicemail  | phone to  | voicemail  | if left  | see who itis  | left  | U.S adults  | 19  | 67  | 14  | Men  | 23  | 65  | 12  | Women  | 16  | 15  | 68  | White  | 17  | 70  | 12  | Black  | 22  | 59  | 19  | Hispanic  | 25  | 57  | 17  | Asian  | 20  | 66  | 13  | Ages 18-29  | 25  | 62  | 12  | 30-49  | 18  | 67  | 14  | 50-64  | 16  | 70  | 14  | 65+  | 20  | 66  | 13  | Lower income  | 24  | 60  | 16  | Middle income  | 18  | 68  | 13  | Upper income  | 14  | 75  | *Asian adults were interviewed in English only.  | Note: White Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are  | not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income report tiers are being based only on one adjusted 2018  | earnings. Those who did not give an answer are not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 13-19 2020.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 