> I rarely even make a phone call anymore

This is true for many young people. Turns out phone calls are pretty much the only time the earpiece speaker gets used on a phone. Lots of people have killed their earpiece speaker by filling it with sand, salt, water, lint, etc. Speakers seem to die more easily when never used, presumably because use vibrates dirt out. End result: When they call 911 they can't hear anything.

My phone currently has a dead earpiece speaker, and I just know that if I need to call 911, it better be on speakerphone.