Phone Etiquette: A Tale of Two Cities
- Amelia Christie
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
I’ve just returned from a week in Japan, and among the many things that impressed me; the efficiency, the courtesy, the precision of even the smallest details; one stood out most - the silence.
On Tokyo’s public transport, clear announcements remind passengers not to make phone calls and to switch devices to silent mode. And people do. Trains filled with commuters travel between stations in near silence - no ringtones, no alerts, no speakerphone calls. Even the glow of screens feels discreet. While it’s a rule enforced by signs, it’s also a shared social understanding… that being in a public space means being considerate of others.
By contrast, London’s public transport offers a rather different soundscape. It’s a patchwork of phone conversations, message alerts, podcasts, and the occasional TikTok soundtrack escaping through someone’s speaker. Our city’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths - but it also brings a wide range of views on what counts as acceptable phone use. For some, a phone call is a lifeline to family abroad. For others, being contactable at all times is a badge of professionalism. And for many, it’s simply habit.
But it raises an interesting question: in our hyper-connected world, have we started to lose the art of quiet consideration?
Phone etiquette isn’t about being anti-technology. It’s about how we balance our right to stay connected with respect for shared spaces. It’s the small courtesies that keep public life civil; lowering the volume, stepping outside to take a call, using headphones, and being present enough to notice the people around us.
As we prepare for Analogue April, it’s a timely reminder that digital wellbeing isn’t only about screen time. It’s also about context - when and where we use our devices, and how that affects others.
Perhaps we could all benefit from taking a page from Japan’s quiet commuters. Not to silence connection, but to restore a little calm… one silent ringtone at a time.
