If it feels like public spaces have become louder, more distracted, and slightly more irritating than they used to be, you’re not imagining it. New UK research suggests mobile phone etiquette has quietly become one of the country’s biggest everyday frustrations. phone etiquette in public

According to fresh data commissioned by O2, three-quarters of Brits (76%) would support clearer rules around mobile phone use in shared spaces like gyms, cafés, and restaurants. Even more telling, 71% believe poor mobile manners have become more common over the past decade.

This isn’t about being anti-phone. Mobile devices are deeply woven into modern life. It’s about how we use them when other people are around and how those habits are reshaping public behaviour in Britain.

Mobile Etiquette Now Matters as Much as Table Manners

The survey of 2,000 UK adults reveals a striking cultural shift. More than four in five Brits (84%) say having good mobile manners is important. That alone might not sound dramatic, until you see what they are comparing it to.

Over three-quarters (77%) believe mobile etiquette is just as important, or even more important, than traditional table manners. More than half (53%) say poor mobile behaviour is as much of a turn-off as poor personal hygiene.

That comparison matters. Hygiene and table manners have long been considered basic social standards. Mobile behaviour has now entered that same category of expectations.

In other words, how you use your phone in public is no longer a personal quirk. It’s a social signal.

The Everyday Habits Driving Everyone Mad

When Brits were asked which mobile behaviours irritate them most, the results were blunt and familiar.

Not silencing your phone in public topped the list, with 45% calling it out as a major annoyance. Loudspeaker use followed closely at 42%, while “phubbing”, checking your phone during a meal with friends or family, came in at 35%.

Perhaps most revealing, failing to silence your phone in public spaces was judged to be just as bad as refusing to give up a seat to someone elderly, disabled, or pregnant on public transport. That comparison underlines just how strongly people now feel about shared-space etiquette.

Privacy breaches also ranked high. Photographing people without consent (34%) and “backdoor browsing” (28%), reading someone’s messages over their shoulder on public transport, were both flagged as unacceptable behaviour.

The UK’s Top Mobile Manner Mishaps to Avoid in 2026

What Brits say needs to change

Not silencing your phone in public spaces (45%)
Loudspeaker use in public (42%)
Checking your phone during a meal (35%)
Photographing people in public without their consent (34%)
Sneakily looking at someone else’s phone, tablet, or laptop screen (28%)
Borrowing a phone charger and not giving it back (27%)
Taking loads of selfies in front of other people (26%)
Checking your phone after being intimate with someone (22%)
Not replying to people on text or via call on time (20%)
Speaking to someone while still wearing earphones or headphones (19%)

These are not niche complaints. They are daily micro-frictions that add up to a sense that public spaces feel less respectful than they used to.

Brits Want to Do Better, Not Just Complain

Here’s the interesting twist. This isn’t just about pointing fingers at other people.

Nine out of ten Brits (88%) say they want to improve their own mobile habits in 2026. That suggests awareness is high and guilt is widespread. Most people recognise themselves in at least one of these behaviours.

In response, O2 has partnered with a ‘Modern Manners coach’, Laura Windsor, to help reset expectations around mobile behaviour.

Modern Manners coach, Laura Windsor, said:
“Mobile phones have become a core part of the way we stay connected and communicate with one another. Whether checking in on friends and family, reading the news, or responding to emails, phones are part of everyday life for many of us, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be mindful of our mobile habits. I’ve partnered with O2 to share my advice on how to avoid following the mobile social norms that seem to be winding Brits up.”

The tone here matters. This isn’t about banning phones. It’s about awareness, intention, and context.

Why Mobile Manners Have Become a Cultural Flashpoint

From an expert perspective, this trend isn’t surprising. Smartphones have collapsed the boundary between private and public life. Calls, messages, videos, and social feeds now spill into shared spaces by default. phone etiquette in public

What’s changed recently is tolerance. Post-pandemic, people are spending more time in public again, but their patience for noise, intrusion, and distraction appears to be lower. Studies from organisations like Ofcom and the Pew Research Center have shown rising concern around digital distraction, attention fragmentation, and social disconnect.

The UK is not alone. Similar debates are happening across Europe and North America, with cafés banning laptops, gyms discouraging filming, and public transport operators experimenting with “quiet zones” once again.

Modern Manners Coach Tips for a Less Irritating 2026

The World is Your Oyster, Not Your Stage

Whether it’s a TikTok binge or a Spotify playlist, the public space is not your personal concert hall. Playing audio out loud, even at low volume, creates a “noise soup” of overlapping sounds that can be incredibly draining for those around you.

The Golden Rule: If you haven’t got headphones, hit the mute button. Keep shared spaces a “no-scroll-sound” zone.

Lower the “Main Character” Volume

Public transport and cafes are not phone booths. We often don’t realise how much our volume spikes when we’re on a call, but chatting loudly is officially as offensive as refusing to give up a seat for someone in need.

The Golden Rule: Use your ‘library voice’. If you’re in a quiet setting area, a hand over your mouth can help muffle the sound, or better yet, wait until you’ve stepped outside to finish the gossip.

Table Manners 2.0: No “Phubbing”

Placing your phone on the table is the modern way of saying, “Someone more interesting might contact me.” This “phubbing” (phone-snubbing) can be considered rude and make your dining companions feel secondary to your notifications.

The Golden Rule: Unless you’re an on-call surgeon, your phone can stay in your pocket or bag. Give the person across from you 100% of your attention.

Close the “Backdoor” on Browsing

In Britain, privacy is sacred. “Backdoor browsing”, sneaking a look at a stranger’s messages or photos over their shoulder, is the digital equivalent of reading someone’s diary.

The Golden Rule: Mind your own business. If you find your eyes wandering to a neighbour’s screen, pivot to a book, look out the window, or focus on your own device. Respect the digital boundary.

What This Means for the Future of Public Spaces

A real reset, not just a resolution

O2’s spokesperson summed up the cultural moment clearly:
“It’s interesting to see that mobile manners are now considered to be as important as personal hygiene! Mobiles are integral to our everyday lives, helping us unwind and connect, and O2’s research shows there’s a real appetite for more thoughtful, considerate phone habits and the new year offers the perfect opportunity to hit refresh.”

From an industry and societal perspective, this points to a wider trend. Telecom providers, transport operators, hospitality brands, and even city planners are starting to treat digital behaviour as part of the public experience.

We are already seeing parallels with how airlines manage in-flight device use, how cinemas enforce phone bans, and how co-working spaces are designed for quiet focus. Compared with players like Vodafone, EE, or Three, O2’s approach stands out for framing etiquette as a shared responsibility rather than a rules-based crackdown. phone etiquette in public

The takeaway is clear. Phones are not going away. But the social contract around how we use them is evolving fast. The next phase of mobile culture won’t be about better screens or faster networks. It will be about better behaviour.

For Brits heading into 2026, good mobile manners may be the simplest upgrade we can all make, no software update required.

Research conducted by Censuswide among 2,000 UK respondents aged 16+, December 17 to 19, 2025. Censuswide abides by the Market Research Society code of conduct and ESOMAR principles and is a member of the British Polling Council.