Skip to content

We all know the situation: being subjected to one side of someone else’s conversation while in a public space. Or, even worse, the phone is on speaker mode, with the volume turned up very loudly, and it’s possible to hear everything!

As it turns out, speaking on a cell phone makes some people tend to forget their manners. But National Cell Phone Courtesy Month is here to act as a friendly reminder for folks to create new – and more attentive – habits when they need to talk on the phone in public spaces. And since the month of July has a whole 31 days, that should be plenty of time to create a new habit!

History of National Cell Phone Courtesy Month

National Cell Phone Courtesy Month can trace its beginnings back to 2002, when the day was founded by Jacqueline Whitmore, who is a manners expert from Palm Beach, Florida. In fact, just four years earlier, Whitmore had founded her own etiquette school and she was beginning to include some of the issues related to cell phone use in her curriculum.

Back in the early 2000s, mobile phones were just beginning to become a regular occurrence for people but, even up until the mid-late 1990s, they were often relegated to use inside of vehicles. But in the dawn of the new millennium, the number of cell phones appearing in public began to grow exponentially.

The problem was that folks had never really been taught etiquette of what was expected and how to use them courteously. Of course, this was during the time of talking, before texting really caught on and certainly before smart phones allowed for all sorts of other uses for the phone.

National Cell Phone Courtesy Month was established to help educate people on how to be aware of their surroundings and adjust their conversations with this in mind!

How to Celebrate National Cell Phone Courtesy Month

Observing National Cell Phone Courtesy Month comes with a wide array of ways to celebrate! Get started with some of these ideas:

Establish a Cell Phone Free Zone

At work, at school and even at home, it might be a good idea to make the world a slightly better place by building boundaries around where cell phones may be used during National Cell Phone Courtesy Month. This allows people to be much more present in the place where they are, and encourages better cell phone manners.

Get family members, coworkers or colleagues on board with the idea by hosting a conversation about the topic and coming up with ideas to create cell-free spaces. Perhaps they’ll want to continue the project even after the month is over!

Learn Some Statistics About Cell Phone Usage

Different people have different ideas about where, when and how cell phone usage is appropriate. Consider some of these statistics that have come from various surveys regarding cell phone use:

  • As of 2022, 85% of adults in the United States own a smartphone and there are more than 6.5 billion smartphone users all over the world.

  • On average, an American will check their cell phone more than 300 times per day!

  • Up to 47% of Americans would say that they are “addicted” to their cell phones and 74% feel uneasy if they leave their cell phone at home.

Apply Some Cell Phone Courtesy Tips

Celebrate National Cell Phone Courtesy Month by following these tips for cell phone etiquette:

  • When you are in a meeting, don’t check your phone constantly for texts and emails. Concentrate on the people you are with.
  • Set your cell phone to silent or vibrate when in a courtroom, theater, or place of worship.
  • Don’t embarrass yourself; if you need to make a call which you know is going to get intense and emotional, save it for when you are somewhere private. The rest of the world doesn’t need to know about your relationship issues!
  • Finally, check your personal volume control. It’s all too easy to start yelling into your cell phone. Everyone in your vicinity will appreciate your good manners in avoiding “cell yell”!

Also in ...

View all holidays

National US Postage Stamp Day

Tiny artworks, adhesive tokens bridging distances, silently narrating historical tales, each stamp an unspoken messenger of connection.

Canada Day

Have a Canadian cook-out, research the history of this wonderful country, or plan a trip to see first-hand what the vast and diverse place has to offer.

International Chicken Wing Day

Crispy, juicy, spicy or sweet, the ultimate finger food that's perfect for game nights, parties, or any occasion. What's not to love?

International Reggae Day

Get into the laid-back reggae vibe by firing up some classic reggae artists like Bob Marley or Peter Tosh, or dig into the history of reggae and find some new music.

View all holidays

We think you may also like...

International Drop a Rock Day

Crafting silent smiles, stones adorned with kindness, scattered treasures weaving a tapestry of unexpected joy in discovery.

World TB-303 Appreciation Day

An electronic music pioneer, its unique sound sculpted a genre that continues to resonate through the rhythms of today's tracks.

National Quiet Day

Amid the bustling world, finding solace in the absence of noise, where thoughts unwind, and tranquility whispers its soothing secrets.

Potteries Bottle Oven Day

Honor the last time the traditional Potteries Bottle Oven was fired by Gladstone Pottery Museum in the UK’s pottery history heaven, Stoke-on-Trent.

Calendar

Join the community!

Password requirements

  • At least one capital letter
  • At least one lowercase letter
  • At least one number
  • 8 or more characters

Welcome back!

Log in to get personalized recommendations, follow events and topics you love, and never miss a day again!