We’ve all been there. You’re mid-sentence, making solid eye contact, genuinely saying something interesting, and then the person across from you just checks their phone. Rude, much? Obviously. And is it common? More so than ever, apparently. It’s also a phenomenon referred to as “phubbing.” Solitaire Streak surveyed more than 2,000 Americans across 40 major US cities and found that rude phone behavior has officially claimed the top spot as the most annoying thing people deal with in public.
Put. The phone. Down.
The survey found a staggering 74% of respondents said people being glued to their screens and ignoring those around them was the number one rude behavior they encountered day to day. That’s nearly three quarters of the country collectively rolling their eyes at the same thing.
That rude behavior doesn’t stop there. The survey also found that 49% of Americans say they regularly see others blasting videos or taking calls on speakerphone in public. One in three say they’ve watched someone let their phone ring out loud in a shared space rather than just silencing it. Which, honestly, is impressive in its own way. Android has had a Heads Up feature nudging people to stay aware of their surroundings for years. There’s even Focus Mode built right into Android settings to help people put the phone down. The tools exist. But as it turns out, people just don’t care.
And things are apparently getting worse. One in three Americans say people in their city have gotten ruder compared to last year. The survey didn’t ask what changed, but the data suggests you probably already know the answer.
The cities that came out on top (for the wrong reasons)
As for where the worst offenders live, Miami topped the overall rudeness ranking with a score of 99.29 out of 100. That’s not just first place. That’s first place by a lot. Las Vegas and Philadelphia rounded out the top three.
But here’s the thing the survey keeps coming back to: phone complaints showed up consistently across all 40 cities. Miami might have taken the lead here, but apparently everyone’s got a little rudeness in them. So, if you don’t want to be seen as rude, at least in this modern day and age, be a bit more mindful of how you use your phone.
Perhaps we should adopt what people in Japan have long been doing. When you’re out in public, especially in closed environments like the train or bus, put your phone on silent and maybe text instead of yapping incessantly. It’s time to stop phubbing around.
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