I am told this is not a 1st April joke. So be in to win one of these ten rings with someone's phone number engraved.

 

New research has revealed a clear contradiction when it comes to how Kiwis communicate. While we have more ways to stay in touch than ever and are spending more time on our phones, two-thirds of Kiwis say meaningful conversations are getting harder to come by.

 

The research, commissioned by 2degrees shows that 68% of Kiwis now default to messaging (34%) or social platforms (34%) as their primary communication method, with just 15% regularly making phone calls - despite 77% saying a call with a friend or family leaves them feeling better. 

 

One stat that particularly stood out: when Kiwis pick up their phone with a spare few minutes, they’re nine times more likely to scroll social media than call someone to say hi (45% vs 5%), even though 59% say there’s someone they wish they called more often. 

 

It paints a picture of a very modern tech behaviour gap - we know what works, what kind of communication makes us feel good, but our habits are programmed to behave differently.

 

In response, 2degrees has taken a deliberately low-tech approach... 

 

They’ve created Ring Ring, a limited-edition thumb ring engraved with a loved one’s phone number. No battery, no Bluetooth, no tracking. One simple function: a simple prompt to interrupt the scroll and make a call. 

 

Entry form, rules here: https://www.2degrees.nz/ringring