Recently, the topic "More and more people are unwilling to answer calls from unknown numbers" has drawn attention. The People's Daily published a commentary titled "Is Reluctance to Answer Unknown Calls a Sign of Growing Indifference?",It points out that people's reluctance to answer calls from unknown numbers is not due to indifference, but rather frustration with pervasive harassment calls and telecom fraud.
Citing survey data, the article noted that in 2025, the average rate of missed calls from unknown numbers among mobile phone users nationwide reached 68%, with the miss rate hitting 76% among those aged 25 to 40. Additionally, 56.6% of respondents reported fear or hesitation when answering calls.
The People's Daily pointed out that with the widespread adoption of social tools like WeChat, communication among acquaintances has become increasingly convenient, diminishing the once-obvious advantage of instant phone contact.
In contrast, harassment calls such as real estate promotions, financial product marketing, and impersonation of customer service for fake refunds are rampant, causing growing wariness toward unknown numbers.
Especially with the aid of AI technology, promotional and fraudulent calls can be made in bulk without fatigue, and new risks such as voiceprint theft also exist.
Even more concerning is that some harassment calls can accurately recite users' names, shopping histories, and other personal information, highlighting the issue of personal data leaks.
The People's Daily believes that rejecting unknown calls is merely a helpless form of self-protection by the public; what truly needs to be addressed are the issues of harassment calls, telecom fraud, and personal information leaks.
The article emphasized thatNormal social communication should not have to pay the price for harassment and fraud. People are not completely rejecting calls from unknown numbers; rather, they expect a safe and clear environment where they can answer calls with confidence.