Should You Call or Text? Science Weighs In

A new study suggests that we undervalue the bonding and enjoyment we get from hearing someone's voice

The human voice carries an expanded bandwidth of information that allows us to connect to eachother more deeply.i_am_zews/Shutterstock

Like most people, I’ve been doing a lot of texting with friends and family lately. COVID-19 (and the physical separation it necessitates) has limited socializing in person, which means I’ve had to work harder than ever to keep my relationships strong and healthy.

But a new study suggests that if that’s my aim, texting may not be enough. To stay close at a time when we all need companionship and support, we’d be better off picking up the phone or setting up a video call—doing something where we can actually hear another person’s voice.