National Call a Friend Day

National Call a Friend Day timeline

February, 2004

Facebook Founded

Social networking site Facebook was created, making it easier than ever to stay connected to friends.

2011

On the Go

It was estimated that more calls using mobile phones were made than wired devices in Britain.

2014

One Text Message Away

Texting overtook phone calls as the most popular medium of communication for people under the age of 50.

December 28, 2019

National Call a Friend Day

National Call a Friend Day is celebrated annually to bridge the communication gap between friends who have been out of touch.

National Call a Friend Day FAQs

When is National Call a Friend Day?

National Call a Friend Day 2026 falls on Monday, December 28. It’s a perfect opportunity to take a break from holiday busyness and reconnect.

Why is it important to call a friend?

Calling a friend offers a unique intimacy that texting or social media lacks, fostering deeper connection and reducing feelings of isolation. Studies show strong social ties improve mental and physical health.

How many people value friendship in the U.S.?

Friendship is highly valued, with surveys consistently showing that a significant majority of Americans consider close friends essential for happiness and support. Approximately 70% of adults report having at least one close friend.

What's the difference between a call and a text?

A call offers immediate, synchronous communication with voice inflection and tone, conveying emotion and nuance that text messages often miss. It fosters a more direct and personal connection.

National Call a Friend Day Activities

Call a friend

This tip wins no prizes for being unexpected, but the very best way for you to get into the spirit of this holiday is to pick up thephone and actually call that friend. You could phone one friend and call it a day, or you can work your way through that little black book of people you've been meaning to reconnect with. You can use your phone, connect through Skype, or use any number of the apps out there that let you communicate voice to voice.

Get chatty with a wrong number

Everyone makes a mistake now and then, but on National Call a Friend Day, you have the opportunity to convert a wrong number into a friend you didn't know you had. If you receive a phone call on December 28 from someone you don't know, take an extra moment to be friendly and try out a little small talk. Not the passive sit-around-and-wait type? Try dialing a wrong number on purpose and see if you can squeeze in a conversation with the person who picks up. You might just make somebody’s day.

Hold a getting-in-touch party

Chances are, a few of your friends are friends with each other. And chances are, at least one of your mutual friends lives somewhere outside comfortable visiting distance. On December 28, celebrate National Call a Friend Day in communal style by inviting your local cohorts to a party themed around getting back in touch with those friends who couldn't make it in person. Dial up your mutual friends on speakerphone and have fun connecting as a group.

Why We Love National Call a Friend Day

All you need is love

Humans are social creatures, and we tend to do best when we foster loving, supportive relationships with others. Going it alone can be tough, andwhile there are a few hermits out there who shun society and contact with other humans, most of us aren't built for a life of solitude off the grid. Whether you're a social butterfly with countless friends in different groups, or you're an introvert with a hand-picked squad of a few very close companions, your interactions with your friends plays a major role in your self-esteem, confidence, and overall sense of well-being.

Voices make more impact

Once upon a time, the written word was mostly used forprinted publications like novels, newspapers, and encyclopedias. People wrote letters to each other, but those letters took weeks or even months to reach their intended recipients. But the internet completely revolutionized how we communicate, and youngergenerations are twice as likely to reply to a text as they are to answer a phone call. Voice-based communications aren't as popular today, but studies show that oral conversations stimulate wider areas of the brain than text-based conversations on the same topic.

Staying in touch can be tough

Friends have a habit of understanding that you're busy. Some friends don't want to bother you, distract you, or take you away from your important work. In our modern era, we've developed the tendency to not call our friends. Out of respect for their time, we tend to send texts, emails, or messages through social media that our friends can answer at their leisure. But on National Call a Friend Day, we have the perfect reason to dial up the people we care about most, making a very human connection in our technological age.