We at VALLEY are well aware the term “speed dial” has not necessarily been used since the BlackBerry era. Frankly, we’re not really sure we could fully explain to you what being on “speed dial” means … but we’ve decided to take it back. Give it a revamp and use it in modern terms!
Upon further research and a walk down memory lane, we first found out exactly what “speed dial” means. Maybe it’s just us who don’t know, but we’ll share with the greater good anyways.
According to Oxford Dictionary, the term speed dial refers to, “a function on some telephones that allows numbers to be entered into a memory and dialed using fewer buttons.” So, essentially your “favorites” section in the phone app.
Cute, right? At least it was until we stopped calling each other all the time. Once texting became the main form of communication, the love language that was speed dialing died. But has it been revived? Do we still have our friends on speed dial?
The Lost Love Language
This piece is not a lecture on the history of speed dialing. Rather, it’s an ode to the love language we thought we may have left behind in the early 2000s. There is no need to mourn, however, because we have created our own modern-day version on almost every platform we now use.
Arguably, the most modern version of speed dialing is the people we have pinned on messages. If not every hour, at least every day a message bubble appears in front of each pinned person’s icon. These people (or groups of people) are the ones you are in constant contact with, comparable to the people who were in the top 3-speed dial slots.
We’re talking about your best friends, your significant other, your siblings, your nail tech. If you just experienced the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you, these are the people you are taking your phone out to tell immediately after.
Social Media Sends
Following that, we have the social media platforms. Everyone knows your Instagram Reels and your TikTok FYP are vastly different, but are the people you are sending your favorites to different as well? Chances are … probably not. Honestly, these people are most likely the same ones you have pinned in your messages. It’s getting cute again, right?
Your “recommended” profiles when you go to send the Reel of the adorable puppies are probably the same set of people you send the TikTok you wasted five minutes of your life watching. And one thing is for sure … they will enjoy that video just as much as you did because your social media platforms start to learn your “speed dial” people.
The Questionable Set
Now, there is one model of “speed dial” that might prove to be more questionable than the rest, and that is your Snapchat best friends list. This does not apply to everyone. Maybe you’re reading this thinking your best friends list mirrors your pinned messages. If that’s the case, great! For others, however, there may be people on that list that you are still too nervous to follow on Instagram. That’s okay too!
Actually, it’s a lot like rearranging the order on the speed dial list. One day the person you’re “kind of seeing” is number one, and the next your best friend is back on top. Funny how that works, huh?
Regardless of how it may fluctuate, it’s nice to think we’re still living out parts of an early 2000s romcom. Though it’s performed a little differently now, the mechanics remain the same. Now go show some love to your “speed dial” people for the 100th time today!
Tag us on Instagram, @VALLEYmag, with pics of your “speed dial” people!
