Nervige Daddelei: Umfrage: Zwei Drittel wollen keine Handys am Esstisch

A recent poll by the opinion research firm Civey, commissioned by telecommunications company Vodafone, reveals that two-thirds of people disapprove of smartphone use at the dinner table. Out of approximately 2,500 respondents, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) find it impolite when a dining companion uses their smartphone during shared meals.

One-sixth (17 percent) admit to checking their phone at least occasionally during such gatherings. A staggering 71 percent consider the distraction of a companion using their phone during personal conversations impolite, while one-third (34 percent) find the same behavior unacceptable during movie or theater outings. The poll also provides insight into the frequency of these behaviors: One in eleven (9 percent) users check their phone intermittently during personal conversations, while six percent (6 percent) admit to doing so at the cinema or theater.

In professional settings like meetings and at work, checking emails or sending chat messages is generally considered acceptable, with only about one in five (21 percent) people viewing it as impolite. The same proportion finds it impolite to check their phone in bed, particularly when lying next to a partner or significant other.

Interestingly, the survey shows similar disapproval of smartphone use in bed as it does in bed, approximately 40 percent of respondents would consider it impolite for someone to use their phone during a first date, although this occurs infrequently, with only 2 percent admitting to doing so even occasionally. Gender differences are not significant in the evaluation of smartphone use by companions.

More women tend to be bothered by the behavior during meals and personal conversations, while slightly more men express discomfort during movies or theater visits when their partner briefly checks their phone.