Essential Report
Attitudes towards mobile phone etiquette
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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