The most popular way to send New Year’s greetings in Germany remains the phone. According to a survey published by the IT industry association Bitkom on Friday, 91 percent of those surveyed said they would reach for the receiver and make a phone call to wish a Happy New Year.
For the majority, this also includes greetings via text message in messenger services (60 percent) or video calls (56 percent). Forty-eight percent plan to send voice messages via messenger services at the turn of the year.
Almost half of the Germans (47 percent) want to send New Year’s greetings this year via social networks. Among the younger age group of 16 to 29 years, even two-thirds (66 percent) plan to use social services like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok for their New Year’s greetings. Among the older age group of 65 and above, it’s only a quarter (25 percent).
Meanwhile, more and more people are using recorded video messages: 24 percent plan to send them as New Year’s greetings this year, compared to 15 percent last year. On the other hand, fewer people are writing by hand: only 14 percent of Germans will write postcards or letters this year, compared to 19 percent last year.
In total, six percent of those surveyed plan to send New Year’s greetings via SMS, five percent via email or collaboration tool, and three percent will do it in person. In general, a short message to loved ones is the norm for most at the turn of the year: only three percent of Germans plan not to send any New Year’s greetings at all.
Bitkom Research surveyed 1,004 people in Germany, aged 16 and above, from the 43rd to the 46th calendar week of 2024, via phone.