Pure Telecom, Ireland’s high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, have announced the results of its annual Connected Lives survey, which has found that three-quarters (75%) of the population think that sending voice notes exceeding a minute’s duration is unacceptable. The research found that adults in Ireland are prolific users of voice notes, with 54% saying they send them at least once a week and a chatty 23% send them at least once a day.
The nationally representative survey of 1,006 adults in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom and examined the growing trend of voice notes as a means of communication. The research found that in total, 77% of adults have recorded and sent a voice note in the last 12 months. In fact, voice notes are so popular, that one-third of the population report that they are the primary way in which they communicate with their friends.
While voice notes have exploded in popularity, there is a limit to recipients’ patience with them – but women have a lot more time for them than men do. The research found that just 11% of men will tolerate a voice note that goes beyond one minute in length, compared to 21% of women. Almost all adults (94%) consider voice notes of longer than three minutes unacceptable.
The research found that the public is divided in their overall opinion of the voice notes, with less than half (45%) saying they actually like receiving them. Going even further than this, nearly a quarter (23%) admit to being irritated when they see that they have received a voice note. This could explain why a similar proportion (22%) say they have been reprimanded by a recipient for sending one.
The survey also revealed that not everyone gives voice notes the attention and commitment they require, with 40% finding it difficult to take the time to listen to voice notes in their entirety. This may explain why 34% of adults admit that they don’t always listen to the full message and more than one in 10 people (14%) don’t listen to them at all. More than half (51%) confessed that they often forget what was said in a lengthy recording, while 46% said that they often forget what they, themselves, have said in their voice notes.
Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “While convenient when on-the-go or when we have our hands full, the Irish public has spoken – and they are saying to get to the point! We might be renowned as a nation of storytellers, but rambling is out, as our research shows.
“The way in which we communicate and connect with each other is always changing and evolving and it is clear that voice notes are a growing, if divisive, medium. By providing our nationwide customers with the best quality broadband available in their location, Pure Telecom’s network is here to help people to connect and stay in touch with each other. However, while our network won’t be the cause of cutting a rambling voice note short, we can’t always say the same for the recipients!”
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