TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jun 27, 2014) - (TSX:T)(TU) - While you don't need to look too far, or listen too closely, to decipher that phone manners may be on the verge of extinction, TELUS asked Canadians to weigh in on smartphone etiquette ahead of Cellphone Courtesy Month this July. Working with Google Consumer Insights, TELUS uncovered some interesting - and, in some instances, even bizarre - insights around Canadians' views on smartphone etiquette.
When it comes to our devices, we aren't getting any love for updating our relationship status or sharing the latest cat meme - at least not from those sitting right beside us. The conclusion: We could all use a little restraint when the urge to pull it out strikes.
-
What's worse than whipping it out during a eulogy?
-
Put the phone down and pass the popcorn. When asked "when or where is it completely unacceptable for others to use their smartphone," more people said movie theatre misuse is a bigger faux pas than pulling it out at a funeral (11.8 per cent vs.10.4 per cent, respectively).
-
-
Brandishing your smartphone is a tremendous turn-off.
-
More than half (53.9 per cent) of respondents said that if their companion whipped it out on a first date, there wouldn't be a second one, and 16.5 per cent said they would end the date early if they couldn't keep it in their pants.
-
-
Toying with it can be a slap in the face.
-
What's more offensive than being told to "shut up"? Nearly half (49.6 per cent) of Canadians said that interrupting a conversation to check their smartphone is a greater offense.
-
-
Polite? Canadians can be downright rude!
-
Survey participants (75 per cent) indicated overwhelmingly that they have used their smartphone to tune someone out, or avoid conversation.
-
-
We play with it more around loved ones.
-
The survey found that we're twice as likely to play with our phones around family and friends (82.6 per cent) than we are when at work (40.6 per cent).
-
-
Who, me?
-
While 9 in 10 Canadians think others are annoying when they use their smartphone in public, 40 per cent of us don't believe our own smartphone use bothers others. Which leads us to the next interesting finding…
-
-
For once, Canadians are unapologetic!
-
In fact, when told by someone else that their smartphone use was inappropriate, 38 per cent of respondents said they didn't care - only 10 per cent said they regretted their behaviour.
-
And that's not all. Canadians had even more to say on how they feel about whipping it out. Check out the full results and highlights from the survey here.
"At TELUS, we feel somewhat responsible for how close Canadians have become to their devices. We get it - we're enablers. Whether it's emailing the boss at midnight, disturbing the peace with a loud phone conversation on the bus or taking photos of our lunches, our obsession with phones is not letting up. But exercising restraint and showing good manners can go a long way," says Anne-Marie LaBerge, vice-president Brand and Marketing Communications, TELUS. "There's a right time and place for everything, even pulling out the beloved smartphone; and it appears our fellow Canadians agree that sometimes we're better off keeping it in our pants."