The top 10 messaging mishaps parents do when talking to their kids

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A quarter of Gen Z adults actively avoid phone calls and six in 10 even blank calls from their own parents, a study has found.

A third find calls ‘awkward’ and 24 per cent would never just phone someone out of the blue.

In fact, 36 per cent reckon the bulk of the phone calls they make are trying to get hold of their mates on a night out.

The poll of 1,000 adults aged 18-25, commissioned by Sky Mobile, found 73 per cent would rather catch up on WhatsApp, iMessage or Snapchat than speaking on the phone.

However, it’s not just calls they are ignoring, as 41 per cent have even muted a group chat with their mum and dad.

The mobile network has teamed up with TV star Jeff Brazier, who has been on campus finding the best way parents can contact them as millions of students head off to university for the first time.

Jeff said: “I used to think I was up to speed with all the texting tricks of the younger generation, but after I visited some lovely students, I’ve officially been schooled.

“Keeping connected to my kids is super important particularly as they embark on the big challenges in their lives.

“So, I’m glad I’ve been given the opportunity to learn from some of the digital natives of our time.”

Keeping up with your children

It comes after a separate poll of 1,000 parents with children aged 13 to 25 revealed 71 per cent believe picking up the phone for a chat is the best way to keep in contact with someone.

Six in 10 parents believe the younger generation are scared of answering calls compared to previous generations with 64 per cent agreeing they only hear from their children via WhatsApp and text.

The research also explored messaging between parents and their children – with 41 per cent of Gen Z noting their parents often reply ‘ok’ to almost everything.

While 30 per cent get inundated with a stream of x’s at the end of a message from mums and dads.

It also emerged 35 per cent find it amusing when their parents have no idea what emojis mean, with 27 per cent thinking their parents are clueless about the ones they are sending themselves.

Whereas 38 per cent admitted they hardly ever use emojis and if they do they try to play it safe with 40 per cent of parents revealing getting their head around what emojis mean is like learning a new language.