Do you think there should be times or places where phones are put away completely?

B Natural answer

Yes, I do think there are certain situations where phones should be put away completely. In work meetings, for example, people are paying for everyone’s time, so it feels fair to stay focused. The same goes for classrooms, religious services, and formal events. I also think phones should be off during meals with friends, because otherwise people drift into mindless scrolling instead of talking. That said, I don’t think the rule should be extreme everywhere. In emergencies, or when someone is waiting for important news, a phone can be useful. The main idea is to respect other people and read the situation. If your phone is distracting others or making them feel ignored, then it probably belongs in your bag.

Key phrases in this answer

• work meetings — meetings at work where people discuss tasks, plans, or decisions“I try not to check my phone during work meetings.”
• mindless scrolling — browsing online for a long time without real purpose or attention“I lost half an hour to mindless scrolling.”
• respect other people — show consideration for others and their feelings, time, or space“If you are late, try to respect other people’s time.”
• put your phone on silent — switch your phone to silent mode so it does not ring or ping loudly“Before the movie starts, please put your phone on silent.”
• family dinner — a meal shared by family members, usually at home“We usually talk about our week at family dinner.”
• real conversation — an honest, direct talk where people pay attention to each other“We had a real conversation about what went wrong.”