75% of 55+ Americans use Yellow Pages
Among Americans aged 55 and older, almost three-quarters still use the Yellow Pages to find businesses, according to a 2024 poll.
Where this was said
Three Forces That Killed the Phone Book — and Who Still Uses It
At 16:28 · chapter starts 15:10
The phone book didn't die in one dramatic moment — it was chipped away by three successive forces [1] — Chuck Bryant "Three forces dismantled the phone book in quick succession: 411 free information lines in the '80s, the internet, and a 2004 Congressional …" 15:03 . First came 411, free directory assistance starting in the 1980s, which let you call a person to read you listings instead of hunting through a book yourself. Then the internet arrived and made finding businesses trivially easy. Finally, in 2004, Congress passed a law prohibiting cell phone numbers from being listed in phone books, dramatically narrowing the White Pages' usefulness to landline-only households. But the phone book never fully died. A 2024 poll found that more than 50 million US homes still have a landline, and 10% of all Americans still use the Yellow Pages [2] — Chuck Bryant "A 2024 poll found that 10% of all Americans still use the Yellow Pages, and among those 55 and older, almost three-quarters do. As long as …" 16:00 . Among those aged 55 and older, nearly three-quarters use it to find businesses. Josh, now in that demographic bracket, takes playful offense at being lumped in with 'the olds.' The episode closes with a genuine endorsement of Seneco Glass in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio — still advertising in the Yellow Pages, still serving local customers.
2004 law banned cell numbers from phone books
In 2004, Congress passed a law prohibiting cell phone numbers from being listed in phone books, accelerating their decline.
50M+ US homes still have landlines in 2024
A 2024 poll found that more than 50 million homes in the US still have a landline, meaning they continue to receive phone books unless they opt out.
The Phone Book Is Not Dead — 75% of Seniors Still Use It
A 2024 poll found that 10% of all Americans still use the Yellow Pages, and among those 55 and older, almost three-quarters do. As long as people use it, businesses have an incentive to advertise in it — and the Yellow Pages has every reason to keep publishing.
10% of Americans still use Yellow Pages
A 2024 poll found that 10% of all Americans still use the Yellow Pages, and among those aged 55 and older, almost three-quarters use it to find businesses.
Similar snapshots
SF average rent up 18% in 2 years
San Francisco's average rent rose 18% over the past two years to $3,728/month, surpassing New York City as the most expensive rental market in the country.
SF average rent: $3,728/month
San Francisco's average monthly rent now stands at $3,728, surpassing New York City to become the most expensive rental city in the United States.
Bobby walked 7 miles with dicks drawn on face
At a childhood sleepover, Bobby Lee's friends drew penises on his face and he walked 7 miles home on a dirt road before being picked up by Eric Purvis's mom.
World poverty: 60% in 1950 vs 10% today
In 1950, about 60% of the world lived in extreme poverty; today it's about 1 in 10, attributable to capitalist economic growth.
6M US children fell into poverty 2021–24
From 2021 to 2024, 6 million children fell below the poverty line in the US after the expanded child tax credit expired.
Private adoption costs $40,000–$70,000
Private domestic infant and international adoptions typically cost $40,000 to $70,000, while foster care adoption is the most affordable route at $0 to $2,000.
Only 40% of men have ever reproduced
Historically, only 40% of men have ever reproduced — Galloway uses this to argue that romantic success requires effort, not a hall pass.
7th of 10 children
Robby Hoffman is the 7th of 10 children raised in a Hasidic household in Montreal, where the family was poor and comedy was a survival mechanism.
No concept of 'too soon'
Robby's Hasidic community had no concept of 'too soon' in comedy — if it was funny, you threw it, and if you bombed, your sibling told you immediately.
