Technology at the Table: Mobile Devices, Dining Out, and Social Connections

Technology at the Table:Mobile Devices, Dining Out, and

Social Connections

Ryan S Eanes, PhD (ABD)School of Journalism and

Communication

“Phubbing”…or “phone snubbing” (2013)

The Unspoken Message

Public interaction with a mobile device seems to “pit the priorities of the ‘in’

group—those on the phone—against those in the ‘out’ group, or people in close

proximity to the talkers” (Belson, 2004)…

…or texters, or game players, or selfie-takers…

Increasingly Common• Pew Research Center (April 2015): 64% of

American adults own a smartphone, up from 35% in 2011!

• Rasmussen Reports (July 2013): 58% of American adults dine out “at least” once a week

• Probability of any single diner in a restaurant owning a smartphone is ~37% (…that’s a lot of phones)

Unequal Actions• Survey study (N = 428)• Overall, there is a moderately high level of

aversion to mobile phone use in restaurants

• Specific actions (talking at the table, playing games) seem more “taboo” than others (looking up information)

• Much less taboo for single diners to use devices

An Environmental Connection?

• Oldenburg and the “third place”• Public, private, and somewhere in-

between• Similar survey results: higher aversion

(i.e., less likely to use) to smartphones in these hybrid/social environments

A “Settling” Period?Settling down isn’t easy to do…

Next Questions• Differences based on type of restaurant

(fast food, fast casual, fine dining)?• Differences based on group

size/composition?• Can these findings be harnessed by

industry?• Implications for communication and

social theory?

References• Belson, K. (2004, June 27). I want to be alone. Please call me. New

York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/weekinreview/27bels.html

• Oldenburg, R. (1989). The great good place: Cafés, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House.

• Phubbing: The war against anti-social phone use [Web log post]. (2013, August 5). The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2013/aug/05/phubbing-anti-social-phone-campaign

• Rasmussen Reports. (2013). 58% eat at a restaurant at least once a week. Retrieved from http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/july_2013/58_eat_at_a_restaurant_at_least_once_a_week

• Smith, A. (2015). U.S. smartphone use in 2015. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/

rse@uoregon.eduhttp://www.ryanean.es

Twitter: @eanersFacebook:

ryaneanes81Generous support provided by the University of Oregon

Graduate Food Studies Grant