No age group can resist allure of cellphones

If you’re a millennial, or if you know one, then you’ve probably struggled with the social etiquette of the cellphone. Highly scientific surveys show that millennials are horrible, anti-social subhumans who can’t be bothered to tear themselves away from their screens.

But it also happens that their elders aren’t much different, either.

Older generations may take some comfort in a new American study showing 35 per cent of younger Americans frequently use their phones “for no particular reason,” simply to have something to do. And as many as 13 per cent say they frequently use their mobile devices to avoid interacting with other people. The Pew Research Center study shows the figures are way higher among young people than for older folks, who, while still terrible, can rest easy knowing they’re just slightly less terrible in this respect.

When it comes to the broader cultural question of cellphone etiquette, however, all ages are guilty. Eightyeight per cent of study respondents — young, old and in between — say it’s inappropriate to use your phone at a family dinner, for example.

Whatever our attitudes about what should happen during social situations, it all goes out the window in real life. When Pew asked people to reflect on their most recent social gathering, 61per cent of respondents admitted to reading a text message or email during the event. Just over half said they sent a message. Fiftytwo per cent confessed to taking a call. A third said they placed a call, and the same number said they checked their phone for notifications.

It’s seems we’re all terrible at trying to ignore our phones when we’re with other people.