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Attitudes towards mobile phone etiquette

25 Feb 2020

Q. How appropriate are the following examples of mobile phone etiquette?

  NET: Appropriate NET: Inappropriate Always appropriate Usually appropriate Sometimes appropriate Rarely appropriate Never appropriate
Having video calls in public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) 13% 64% 4% 9% 23% 28% 36%
Texting or watching movies while walking along the street 12% 69% 4% 8% 19% 23% 46%
Checking messages while in a conversation with another person 10% 69% 4% 6% 21% 28% 41%
Having phone conversations on speaker in a public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) 10% 73% 4% 7% 16% 23% 50%
Using speakers rather than headphones in public 10% 77% 4% 6% 13% 25% 52%

 

NET:  Inappropriate   Gender Age
Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
Having video calls in public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) 64% 59% 69% 43% 60% 86%
Texting or watching movies while walking along the street 69% 64% 74% 48% 67% 90%
Checking messages while in a conversation with another person 69% 63% 75% 51% 66% 88%
Having phone conversations on speaker in a public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) 73% 68% 78% 60% 70% 87%
Using speakers rather than headphones in public 77% 74% 80% 67% 77% 86%
Base (n) 1,090 539 551 341 374 375
  • Over half of people (52%) say it’s never appropriate to use speakers, rather than headphones in public, with another quarter (25%) saying it’s rarely appropriate.
  • Having a video call is seen to be the least inappropriate activity (36%), but still just 4% say this activity was always appropriate and 9% say it is usually appropriate.
  • Women and people over 55 years old are more likely to say each of the activities is never appropriate compared to men and those aged 18-34.
  • Non-capital city residents are more likely to say that having video calls in public place (43%), checking messages while in a conversation with another person (48%), and texting or watching movies while walking along the street (53%) are ‘never appropriate’ than their capital city compatriots (32%, 38% and 43% respectively).
  • However not using headphones (either for calls or using media) is just as inappropriate for capital and non-capital residents.
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