Cellphone Etiquette: Is using a mobile phone in public a bad habit?

One time, I forgot to bring my phone during dinner. I didn't really mind it much, but what I realized was somewhat concerning...

Everyone in my family who was sitting on the dining chairs had their eyes glued to their phone screens.

They looked busy or don't want to be bothered, so I was detterred on starting a conversation with them.

It was then I began to wonder how anti-social I must be in public as well when I use a phone in public or social event.

Unfortunately, there are many more consequences, other than appearing unavailable, when using a phone at public or any social event.

This popular habit has resulted in a generation that struggles with silence, communicating with people who are different from us, or communicating in general.

How This Habit Affects Us

As mentioned before, when you use a phone in public or a social event, you signal everyone in the room that you are currently busy or unavailable.

This behavior deters people from interacting with us, especially strangers.

We live in an age where the majority of people have their head hunched over their phone even in social events where you usually engage with people in small talk or full conversations.

But as we fulfill our social needs through social media and our phones, we often find ourselves sitting in awkward silence for extended periods of time.

There's been a shift in how people interact and resolve disputes.

In the past, debates and discussions were more about sharing perspectives and finding common ground.

Now, with instant access to information via smartphones, discussions and debates can end abruptly with a simple fact-check, potentially reducing the depth of engagement and shared learning.

This is fine and even encourages if it is work related, but if it for the sake of bonding, then genuine conversations remains essential.

Having a habit of using a phone in public or at any social event is either a sign of social media addiction or a gateway to it.

Now, it is true that using your phone in public doesn't inherently cause social isolation and depression. However, habitual checking of your phone to fulfill social needs does.

It's ironic that despite offering connectivity, social media often contributes to feelings of isolation and depression in society.

Events Where You Should Never Use Your Phone

Imagine yourself attending a funeral or memorial. Everybody is giving speeches and mourning for the lost loved one. Suddenly, you hear someone playing a game or watching YouTube shorts. How would that make you feel?

If you must use the phone, politely state that you are leaving for a while and use it then.

Everyone gets busy in their life, not many people have time for strangers or people who is not their kin. This is why having friends in life is a blessing, especially if you are older.

If you are hanging out with friends or family, refrain from using a phone (unless you both are actively using it to hang out like watching a video or playing a game).

The time you have one another is precious and limited. Don't waste it.

Using your phone while talking to someone is just plain rude. It indicates that you don't value their thoughts or the conversation overall.

Similarly, using your phone while watching a movie or video that a friend or family member recommended is equally disrespectful.

Imagine yourself as an employer, currently interviewing potential hires. How would you feel about an applicant who holds and checks their phone from time to time during the entire interview?

Vehicle related deaths are unfortunately far too common. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death globally, with approximately 1.19 million people dying each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Source

Presence of mind is vital to prevent car related incidents. Using your phone while driving is just plain dumb.

Don't put yourself, your passengers, and other drivers in danger.