Line Time

Here’s the Best Line to Use on People Who Are Spending Too Much Time on Their Phones

It’s polite yet suggests you don’t appreciate being ignored.

Published

2 years ago

March 30, 2022

Signs of the Times Staff Signs of the Times April 2022 Issue

“I see you’re on your phone. Is everything OK?”

When to use it? If someone is spending too much time engaged with their phone during a meeting or other interaction, here’s the perfect way to address the situation. Your comment indicates a sincere concern — after all, there could really be an emergency happening. But at the same time, it politely indicates your preference and expectation that your counterpart will be fully engaged in your conversation and you will no longer be “phubbed” (think “phone snubbing” or being ignored by a companion engaged by a phone or mobile device).

SOURCE: Indistractible by Nir Eyal

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