Have people under the age of 25 forgotten how to put a phone to their ear?

[ImEasyLikeSundayMorning]

Lighthearted before there's a hissy fit from a 24.6 year old.

Im forever seeing people outside talking to someone on loud speaker.
They will talk into the bottom bit, then move it to their ear to hear the response and back to their mouth then quickly back to their ear as nauseam.

Why have people stopped putting their phone to their ear in the normal, intended fashion?

Im old, aren't I?

(my teenagers do this too. I ask them. They don't know)

Is it to stop makeup smears? I have often pondered this mystery of modern life myself and this is all I can come up with.

My touch screen phone has an annoying habit of thinking my ear is touching the hold or mute button, and I'm in my 40s. Possibly this is an explanation.

I’ve found the opposite in terms of ages! So many people on the bus talking loudly on video phone to their (I assume) grandchildren. I was in a restaurant and a lady (I’d say around 50/60), was having a video chat all through dinner on loud speaker!! And so many 50+ men in the City walking around doing this. I’ve no idea why?

Radiation?

I've wondered this too. It's bonkers, and also means everybody else around them can hear the full conversation. Why do it?

It's not just the UK either - I've seen it in a few countries in the last year or so.

Because your ear presses the buttons on the screen and puts you on mute etc.

But men do it too

This has literally never happened to me, and that's how I take all my calls.

Your ear rests against the very top of the phone, your face doesn't really touch the main screen much.

People just dont know how to be appropriate in public spaces any more. I despair and just thank god that I have a car so I can avoid most of it

Despite being annoyed by people not using their phones properly, this does happen to me, my earring bangs on it and presses buttons for me, really annoying.

This is definitely true. The number of people who play music out loud (not through ear buds) in public spaces has increased a lot.

Even in rural areas, country walks etc - people walk with music blaring from them, and it simply wasn't something you came across 15 years ago. It's rude and disrespectful to everyone around them.

It's done in reality tv so the camera can get both sides of the conversation.

Maybe that why?

People copying what they see on TV? Could be.

Smartphones are a great shape for scrolling social media but a rubbish shape for using as an actual phone. Especially in noisy places like a busy public place. If I'm at home I'll use it in the normal way, but when I'm out I do sometimes hokd it to speak directly into the speaker, especially if I have headphones in.

Yeah, this does happen to me 🙈 but now I'm aware I'm just more careful - or I talk to people on loudspeaker when I'm at home, not on the bus or in a restaurant etc because it's somehow far louder when someone is having a loudspeaker phone conversation than when they're just talking face to face or with the phone to their ear.

Some of the people on their phones via the speakers in cars are the worst offenders. You can often hear the remote side of the conversation from well outside the car and that person has no idea it’s not private

I see it too and wonder why. They'll have it on loud speaker but then hold it to their mouth then their ear, loud speaker for calls is surely so you just hold the phone in one place so you can talk and hear? I'm not meaning in busy places where the caller can not be heard, I can easily hear both sides of the conversation when they are walking past.

I'm 60 and I hate holding a phone to my ear and always have. Earphones were a game changer for me and I choose to use them when I make a call. If anyone calls me and I don't have them to hand I keep the call as short as possible.

Yes I noticed this and it's annoying. People walking around on their phone doing a video call or on speakerphone. Why?!

It's not just young people though. A middle aged woman in the supermarket the other day was having a full on conversation so loud over the phone whilst doing her big shop. Why can't it just wait until you get home? What's so urgent? I very rarely speak on the phone in public unless its literally a quick call to DH to tell him something important. I find it so annoying when people are talking on their phones in pubs/cafes/trains for ages with everyone having to listen to it! The worst was a woman who was facetiming with her mum for almost an hour in the hospital waiting room whilst I was waiting nervously to be seen. I just think it's inconsiderate of others around you.

Agree. Most people I see around and public transport of various age groups have wireless earphones in and tend to keep them in when talking on the phone. It’s mostly people who are 50+ I see doing this. I do see teenagers do it on occasion but it is usually when I’m walking home and there is very few people around so they aren’t really bothering anyone and I usually have my earphones in so doesn’t bother me.

I've just had this very conversation with my 14yo, how strange!

Apparently, it's easier because your arm aches if you have to hold it higher. He does say he uses his headphones for it when he's out though.

You're not wrong. Technology has come so far (I've been here over four decades now) and the growth has been rapid. With the smart watches you can forget about ears to phones. My husband (younger than me) calls and answers via his watch which creates intolerable background noise but he just can't comprehend my complaints.

We have to resign ourselves because technology is a huge part of our future and if we don't adapt we will simply be left behind.

Not just under 25, my 40 something neighbour has a daily walk around the estate with his phone in his hand on speaker so everyone can hear the mundane shite him and his constant phone pals have.

My face hangs up on the caller 90% of the time. I suppose I have small ears.

I agree. Whenever my 15 year old calls me when he is out he always has to have it on video call or loud speaker, it's rare for him to actually call me and put the phone to his ear!