April 30th, 2024, Kineree Shah
In a recent survey involving 1,215 American adults, we explored acceptable and unacceptable behaviors during video calls.
The results showed that certain actions are generally frowned upon, with seven in 10 Americans considering eating or chewing loudly on calls inappropriate. Other behaviors deemed unacceptable include interacting with someone nearby without informing the caller and making or answering calls on speakerphone in a shared environment, which three-fifth of adults (63% and 61% respectively) disapprove of. Similarly, making calls in crowded places, late at night, or early in the morning were considered inappropriate by 57%, 54%, and 50% of Americans, respectively.
The survey also highlighted significant differences in opinions across various age groups. Young adults, aged 18-34, were much more lenient compared to older adults. For example, 48% of younger adults find both late-night and early morning video calls acceptable, in stark contrast to just 10% and 15%, respectively, of those aged 55 and over. Younger adults also tend to be more forgiving when it comes to making calls from dark or poorly lit environments, with 46% finding it acceptable versus only 18% of the older demographic.
Gender differences were also evident in the survey results. Men generally exhibited a higher tolerance for what many might consider breaches of call etiquette. For instance, 31% of men versus 24% of women think making video calls late at night is acceptable.
This trend continues with early morning calls, where 35% of men find them acceptable compared to 26% of women. Men are also more likely than women to accept making calls in crowded places and eating or chewing loudly during calls.
Related article: What Americans deem acceptable behavior on voice calls
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Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on 5-8 April 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 1,216 adults (aged 18+ years) in the US, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, race, gender, education, and region to be representative of all adults in the US (18 years or older), and reflect the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.