Phone tag is a phenomenon in which two parties attempt to contact each other by telephone, but neither is able to get a hold of the other for a conversation. Both parties may leave a message on the answering machine or voicemail of the other, and request a call back. This continues for a period of time, often with the two parties exchanging attempts to have a real-time conversation.[1]
Phone tag has increased with the advent of messaging technologies. It is seen as having advantages in that people can leave and receive messages at their convenience rather than having to find a common time with the other party to have a conversation.[2]
With phone tag being possible, people have a choice of when they want to return calls they've received. They may also decide which calls they wish to return and which to not (similar to call screening). Many recipients of messages simply choose to not return certain calls.[3]
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