The number of people in the MZ generation (those born between 1980 and 2004), who are more familiar with communicating through social media rather than by phone, is increasing. As people communicate more through social media and less in person, they report feelings of awkwardness and uncomfortableness when encountering such situations. A phone call, a typical means of communication among modern people, has turned into a fear that causes psychological stress for some. The phenomenon called Call phobia, which is characterized by feelings of anxiousness and reluctance towards phone calls is increasing.
 According to a Kukmin Ilbo survey of 519 men and women aged 19-39 from Jan. 1 to 3 to check the status of Call phobia amongst the MZ generation, 70.5%, or 365 respondents, said they had or were suffering from Call phobia. Seven out of ten people are suffering from Call phobia. 66.7% of them chose “the pressure to make a slip of the tongue because they have to answer immediately” as the reason for their experience with Call phobia. Next, “I needed time to organize my thoughts” (50.4%) had a high response rate. In addition, “because it is convenient for non-face-to-face communication” and “because I can't speak well” also accounted for a large proportion.
 Experts diagnosed that non-face-to-face culture, which has become commonplace due to COVID-19, has accelerated Call phobia among young people who are already familiar with virtual interaction. Ha Jae-geun, a cultural critic, said, “Young people have been used to messages exchanged on the Internet and mobile phones since childhood. As indirect contact online became the main mode of communication, there was a trend of difficulties in calling.” Call phobia among young people is not only a domestic issue but also one that can be seen among young people worldwide. Mary Jane Copps, CEO of a Canadian company, set up an advisory company called “The Phone Lady” last year targeting companies that are trying to solve their employees’ call phobias. Employees who have difficulty making a sudden call, receive a call from a consultant on a designated date and conduct conversation exercises. The one-on-one coach service costs 480 USD per hour. Mary Jane Copps said, “The biggest reason why the younger generation is afraid of phone calls is the anxiety that they may not know the answer to the question, and we are focusing on consulting on it.”
 How can we overcome Call phobia? Mental health experts recommend virtual training. The process involves setting up a phone call situation that can happen to you and practicing your conversation. After virtual training, the range of calls will be gradually expanded from those who are considered relatively comfortable, such as family and friends, to those who are uncomfortable. This method is called “exposure therapy,” which is behavioral therapy for patients with anxiety disorders. It reduces anxiety and fear through gradual or stepwise exposure to objects or environments that feel uncomfortable. The effectiveness of exposure therapy on phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorder is being proven. Kwak Keum Joo, a psychology professor at Seoul National University, said, “Even if it's a short call, increase the number of times gradually.” She also said, “Even if it is difficult to call my boss, you should make a habit of handling it without avoiding it if it is necessary for work. If you get used to it, it’s nothing.”