There was a time when if you wanted to speak to someone, you just… called them. No warning. No scheduling. You picked up the phone, said hello, and had a chat. Simple.
Whatever Happened to Just Picking Up the Phone?
Then 2020 happened, and suddenly the world decided that even one-to-one conversations needed to be booked. Out went spontaneity, in came Calendly links, “meeting invites,” and password-protected chat rooms.
The Rise of the Virtual Boardroom
Zoom, Teams, Google Meet became the holy trinity of the lockdown era. And fair enough, for team meetings they’re brilliant. Screen sharing, recording, breakout rooms – all handy stuff when you’ve got ten people talking at once and everyone’s pretending to listen while secretly checking their emails.
But for one-to-one chats? Come on.
You don’t need a meeting ID to speak to a mate or a client. FaceTime works. WhatsApp works. Facebook Messenger works. Even – brace yourself – the humble phone still works. Honest, it does.
Yet somewhere along the line, people decided that “Let’s have a quick chat” now means “Please select a suitable slot via my automated booking system.”
The Overcomplication of the Simple
We’ve managed to turn one of the simplest human acts – conversation – into a mini project. You’ve got to choose a time, enter your name and email, maybe even get a reminder an hour before your “session.” Then when it starts, you sit there waiting for the other person to “join.”
And let’s not even start on the “Can you hear me?” moments, or that awkward few seconds where you stare at yourself in the corner of the screen, wondering when your hair got quite that thin.
All of this for what used to be a quick two-minute call.
Privacy? What’s That?
There’s also the small matter of sharing personal data with platforms neither party ever agreed to use. Every meeting link carries names, emails, sometimes even contact lists – all piped through third-party servers. You wouldn’t hand over your mate’s number to a random company, but that’s effectively what happens every time you set up a Zoom invite.
Bring Back Spontaneity
Whatever happened to ringing someone just because you felt like it? No schedule, no invite, no “agenda.” Just two people talking, the way we used to.
I’m not saying ditch the tech entirely – group calls still have their place – but we’ve gone too far down the rabbit hole of formality. Not everything needs to be a “meeting.”
Sometimes, you just need to talk.
Questions People Actually Ask
Why Did Everyone Suddenly Switch to Zoom During Lockdown?
Because it became the default. Workplaces adopted it overnight, and everyone followed. Convenience won — even when it wasn’t really necessary.
Isn’t It Easier to Just Send a Link Rather Than Make a Call?
No. It adds extra faff — links, passwords, cameras, and setup. A phone call is faster, simpler, and far less stressful.
Are Video Calls Better Than Phone Calls?
Depends. Some like the face-to-face feel; others hate seeing themselves for half an hour. For most one-to-one chats, audio just feels more natural.
Do People Actually Prefer Scheduled Calls?
Sadly, yes. It gives a false sense of professionalism, even when it’s not needed. But it kills spontaneity – and that’s where real conversation lives.
Will Spontaneous Calls Ever Make a Comeback?
Probably not. The world’s hooked on structure and notifications. But a few of us are still rebelling – quietly, with our phones.