Manners Go Out The Window When It Comes To Mobiles
New research suggests that obsessive use of mobile phones is really testing the patience of friends and family.
Brits have always prided themselves on good manners - and privately frowned upon those who do not exercise them - but it seems our growing smartphone obsession is testing those principles of politeness.
A new survey conducted online by YouGov has identified what phone-related behaviour we find to be annoying - and in some cases how hypocritical we are when using our own phones! The research was commissioned by Mobiles.co.uk, and provides a revealing insight into the role mobile phones play in our lives.
One of the standout findings from the survey was that over 4 in 10 respondents said they get annoyed when other people use their phones in a social situation - yet 61 per cent of those surveyed admitted to using their phone at a party or social event.
It seems that those aged 25-34 are the worst offenders, with 88 per cent saying they use their phones at parties or social events, while only 32 per cent of those over the age of 55 said the same.
Furthermore, almost a quarter (23 per cent) breaks social convention and uses their phone when in the cinema, and 20 per cent even use theirs while on a date. Again, those aged 25-34 are the ones most inclined to be reaching for their handset, with 40 per cent of those polled while on a date.
Nearly half of those surveyed (49 per cent) have used their phone while they are on the toilet, and seven per cent even confessed to using their phone whilst in church.
There are a number of other behaviours exhibited by people using phones which annoy us: for example, 46 per cent of people get annoyed when others check their phones too often - although the survey also revealed that 42 per cent of mobile phone users check their phone at least every hour.
Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of us find it annoying when people use a phone while another person is talking, but speaking loudly on a mobile phone was the biggest pet peeve, with 78 per cent of people finding it irritating.
Commenting on the findings, Rob Hodges, mobile communications expert at Mobiles.co.uk, said: "Using a mobile phone while talking with a friend or on a date was once seen as impolite, but it seems more and more people are doing it as our attachment to our smartphones grows.
"Yet many people still find these behaviours to be annoying, so those who feel the urge to regularly check Facebook or Twitter on their smartphone may find they are causing more offence than they realise."
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