July is National Cellphone Courtesy Month, but a recent survey shows what people consider uncouth is shifting rapidly. According to a recent UScellular survey, 59 percent of respondents believe using a phone during a date is the worst tech etiquette offense, ranking the behavior as more inappropriate than phone use in movie theaters, places of worship, or at family dinners. The survey also showed shifting social norms, as only 53 percent of people now disapprove of phone use in movie theaters, an 11 percent drop from last year’s survey. Meanwhile, concern about phone use around children increased, with 40 percent calling it inappropriate, up 16 percent from 2024. UScellular Western Iowa Sales Director Monique Moore says, “As smartphones become more integrated into our lives, it’s easy to lose sight of everyday courtesy. We’re encouraging everyone to reset their relationship with technology in order to connect with what matters most, especially during moments when being present is more meaningful than being online.” She offers tips to help people be more mindful of others, such as wearing headphones when in public, avoiding “phubbing,” which is a portmanteau of “snubbing” and “phone,” staying alert while walking, and creating device-free zones during family meals to help reset relationships with technology.
