How often do you video chat vs. just talk on the phone?

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Forum -> Relationships -> Manners & Etiquette

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amother

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:06 pm

I see for my kids it's normal for them to video chat all the time with their friends. But I'm in my early 50's. I didn't grow up with this sort of thing. I never video chat anyone. Sure, zoom meetings for work or classes. But if I call a friend or neighbor or relative on the phone, I'm just expecting it to be phone call. I have not ever done face time to schmooze with a friend.
But every time I call my brother (who is my only sibling and almost a decade younger than me) he is so quick to say, "let's FaceTime", especially when his kids are around and while it's a nice idea, I'm often not in a state I want to be seen in. But then I feel so bad. Like maybe he thinks I'm not interested in his kids. I think I need to learn to make my phone calls to him when I'm more put together.
But my question really, is more a curiosity, particularly among my own age group or close to, is face time your new norm or are you like me and more at ease with old fashioned phone calls?

Tzutzie

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:12 pm

I'm in my mid 30s. I don't remember when I last FaceTimed. I always call. But my 50 yo sister always wants to FaceTime. I just say now. I'm busy doing stuff and I'm talking on my headset. And that's that. Other than her and her daughters, no one asks me to FaceTime.

amother

Tomato

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:16 pm

FaceTime is my normal whenever my kids are around, I'm not breastfeeding and it's a relative who presumably would like to see my kids. I like voice only calls, but my son in particular loves to video call family

amother

Plum

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:33 pm

I only videocall when my husband has a late night at work and the kids want to say good night.

amother

Ballota

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:50 pm

I can take it or leave it. I seldom bother with video calls except to the grandkids whom I see very seldom. They're young, their speech isn't always easy to understand, and being able to see their mouths helps. On their end, being able to see me means the very young ones know whom they're talking to, since they have BH two grandmothers.

amother

Gray

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 10:20 pm

I dont like video chat. I only do it when using it for kids to communicate with family abroad and im supervising call

amother

Natural

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 10:25 pm

Really only with my parents, who live in another state.

amother

Chestnut

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 10:26 pm

I’m less than half your age and hate FaceTime
If my kids FaceTime with relatives I get off the phone

amother

Marigold

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 10:43 pm

Never, if someone misses me they can come see me

My teens don't video call anyone either

amother

Floralwhite

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 10:51 pm

I hate FaceTime and I’m more than 10 years younger than you. I never use it and run away from the phone if someone uses it near me.

zaq

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 11:01 pm

It did come in handy during the pandemic, though.

shabbatiscoming

Yesterday at 4:27 am

The only time I ever use video chat really is when Im in a store and have to show something to a family member to make sure thats what they wanted.
Otherwise, its talking on the phone.

amother

Foxglove

Yesterday at 4:48 am

I think face time being the "new norm" is mostly just amongst young people, specifically teens.

I'm only 25 and as a teen got used to facetiming all the time when I wanted to talk with friends, but as a I got older, and especially once I got married, kind of turned back to regular phone calls. A face time is more similar to being together in person, because you are not just listening to someone but also looking at them. But as life gets busier, I don't always want to give my full attention to a phone call, I want to shmooze with someone while doing the laundry or washing the dishes or walking to the supermarket. So I don't facetime much anymore except with my parents/in laws so the kids can see them since we live far away. I can't think of a time I would facetime anyone that I see in person nowadays, only family and occasionally friends that I live far away from and don't get to see in person. It's not nearly as nice as real life spending time but somewhat more connective than a phone call if done with that intention, because you actually see their face.

singleagain

Yesterday at 8:43 am

Video call baby nephews. Who aren't really babys anymore. And occasionally when my siblings and I do a group call it's easier to video call for some reason.. even though I will sometimes be working during it.

But otherwise I call when I'm driving and will not video then.. too dangerous.

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