Cell phones have very quickly become an integral part of our everyday lives as we can communicate through phone calls or text-message from virtually anywhere. As the use of cell phones grows, it becomes more important to understand the etiquette rules applied to cell phone texting usage.
In the Car
Using your cell phone to text-message while driving has become something of a dangerous epidemic to both you and your passengers. There are more and more car accidents every year because of people trying to type with their thumbs while driving. Text messaging while driving is rude to your passengers because you are showing blatant disregard for their safety as well as ignoring whatever conversation that may be going on. If you need to know immediately what the text message says and respond to it, politely explain the situation to one of your passengers and ask them to read the text message and type the response for you. If you are uncomfortable asking one of your passengers to read the text message, wait until you are somewhere more private where you can read and respond to the message yourself. If you are a passenger in the car and are receiving text messages, also remember that it is rude to disregard the other people with you to respond to a message. If it cannot wait, explain to your fellow passengers that you need to respond immediately and do so quickly. Otherwise, wait until you are in a more private location and not engaged in conversation before responding.
While Talking
Do not interrupt the conversation with the person whom you are with to answer a text message. It suggests to the person with whom you are speaking that you are not interested in what she is saying. The same rule applies to text-messaging while also talking with someone over your cell phone. Your phone's keyboard beeps every time you use it during a call so the person on the other end can literally hear what you are doing, even if you have your phone in silent mode.
At Social Events
When at a social event such as a movie, concert, classroom or theatrical production, it is rude to interrupt the performance by text-messaging, particularly in places where it is dark, such as a movie theater, where the lights on your phone can be distracting to others. Put your phone on silent mode and check your messages after the event.
Tags: text message, your passengers, while driving, cell phone, more private