Using Mobile Phones in Public

In this blog I will discuss the social norms of using mobile phones in public and will also talk about the pros and cons of banning using mobile phones in public.

There is currently a debate about whether mobile phone usage should be banned in public areas, for example while being served in a shop. There are both pros and cons to mobile phone usage being banned and I will talk about a few of them in this blog.

Pros of banning mobile phones in public:

One pro of banning the use of mobile phones in public is peace and quiet. Some places, like the library, are used specifically so people can focus on what they are doing. If someone is talking on their mobile phone they will be disturbing the people who are in the library to do work or read. Another example would be in a restaurant. When people go to eat in a restaurant they expect and want soft conversation so they can eat a relaxed meal. However if someone is talking loudly on their phone this will disturb the peace in the restaurant.

A second pro to banning the use of mobile phones in public is a safety reason. This only applies for specific ares like on planes or in hospitals. This is because cell phones can interfere with the equipment is aeroplanes and hospitals. Many states have also banned the use of mobile phones while driving, because they can be a major distraction to the driver. In 1997, a study showed that talking on the phone while driving quadruples the chance of an accident happening on the road.

A final pro to banning mobile phones is that people using a mobile phone is public can be inconvenient to others. Often people try to multi-task while using their mobile phone and this is what can be inconvenient to others around them. An example of this is if someone uses an ATM to take money out, but they are also talking on their cell phone at the same time and this can make it take longer for them to take money out. If there is a queue behind them, the people in the queue will get frustrated and this will not be convenient for them.

Cons of banning mobile phone usage:

The first con is that banning mobile phone usage is a safety issue. Some people argue that having a phone with them at all times and being able to it at all times is vital in case of an emergency. For example if mobile phones are banned to drivers then a driver would not be able to report an accident if they saw one while driving. If someone driving past an accident didn't have their phone with them then they would not be able to call "999" and they person in the accident could be seriously injured.

Another con of banning mobile phone usage is emergencies. Sometimes an emergency situation cannot wait any longer to be sorted out. If a friend who is seriously ill rings and you are in the queue in a shop then you will need to answer the phone in case the friend is in serious danger. If the use of mobile phones in shops in banned then you will not be able to answer the phone and something bad could happen.

A final reason against the ban is that some people believe in have freedom to use their phone wherever they want to, as they payed the money for it. If someone is paying an expensive monthly contract, or if someone has spent a lot of money on buying a mobile phone, that person would expect to be able to use it where ever and for whatever purpose they want to.