Breaking down phone etiquette for Gen-Z

Written by Sofia Ritz, Graphic by Sofia Ritz

We’ve all been told, at some point, to put our phones down at the dining table, and it’s pretty common knowledge that being on the phone while interacting with others is considered rude. There are some gray areas, however, within phone etiquette, that aren’t as obvious. For a generation that lives in a predominantly digital age, those gray areas can be difficult to navigate. Let’s explore them. 

First up: Setting your phone face up vs. face down on the table. Seemingly trivial, or not even a conscious action, this choice sends a message. 

Face up? You’re willing to divert your attention to any alert that pops up— you value the potential of another message over the interaction you’re currently having. 

Face down? You’re fully engaged in your current conversation, and willing to circle back to any missed messages. (This also keeps your phone camera from getting scratched!)

Of course, if you’re expecting an important call or text you should watch out for it, but do your friend a favor and let them know beforehand so they don’t feel you’re not engaged in what they have to say. 

Now, a topic I’ve heard peers complaining about a lot: scrolling while out with friends. When is it appropriate to be scrolling? The social implications of this minor act can be bigger than you’d think. 

Scrolling absentmindedly when anxious or bored in large gatherings is not typically considered rude or bad manners. It’s when you’re in a tighter social circle or just out with a friend or two that this can read as disinterest.

Now, I love the odd brain-rot scroll sesh with friends as much as the next gal, especially to help decompress after a long day or after a hangout. But when this becomes one’s first instinct at any lull in conversation, there’s a problem. 

The itch to flip your phone around, to open an app, to start scrolling — it’s inevitable with how much time our generation spends online. But try being more mindful of that impulse, or maybe let your friends know that you need to turn your brain off for a little bit, so they don’t feel ignored. Flip your phone, and avoid the dreaded, “Are you even paying attention to me?”