Tech

Why Old People Get So Angry When You Use Your Phone During Dinner

Jay Yarow

2013-07-07T16:16:00Z

3642724817_578f9c723e_b — A 45 to 60-year old inspects one of those new-fangled gadgets everyone is talking about these days. Flickr/Nathan Jongewaard

Smartphones are a relatively new technology. But older people still have old-school ideas about when it's polite, or impolite, to use smartphones.

We had Survey Monkey conduct a nationwide survey of people to see how and when people are using their smartphones. We have gathered the results here, focusing on people aged 45-60.

We previously published the results for people 18-29 years old. The results from the 45-60 group follow, and you can see that they have a much more traditional notion of when it's appropriate to use a phone.

For instance, that old piece of etiquette from the days of the hard-wired phone — that it's impolite to call when someone's likely to be eating dinner — is still a current standard for middle-aged people, even though young people just don't care.

It's slightly acceptable to answer a phone call at dinner, but you probably shouldn't do it at all.

Business calls are a little bit better, but are still only "slightly" acceptable.

Facebook, though, is a different story altogether. Don't even think about checking it.

Text, too, is a big no-no. (Younger people are okay with texting and Facebook at dinner.)

If you're on a date, put the phone away.

Even if it's a business call, don't answer the phone on a date.

Stay away from Facebook on dates. Unless the other person is in the bathroom, then maybe it's okay.

Same rules apply for texting: don't do it unless the other person isn't at the table.

People 45-60 years old frequently leave voice mail for people. Young people rarely, or occasionally leave voice messages.

And older people are always going to check if you leave a voice mail.

It's unusual for someone 45-60 to call back without listening to a message.

Email is where the day starts. Then news, then Facebook. For younger people email is number one, but Facebook is a strong second.

Do not post a picture of someone 45-60 to Facebook without getting their permission.

And don't tag them, or check them in, on Facebook either.

Now, compare this to the younger generation ...

chart of the day young people answering phone

Click here to see how young people think about using their gadgets »

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