I’m so cross about my friends’ mobile phone habits

Anne Robinson on how to deal with rude friends who are always on their phones.

A stack of letters addressed to Saga Magazine agony aunt Anne Robinson | Alun Callender

By Anne Robinson | Published - 28 Oct 2025

We hear a lot about young people being addicted to their phones, but are we oldies just as bad?

When my friends go out to lunch, there are always one or two of them, nose down, busy tapping. The moment somebody’s phone pings with a text it’s almost comedic – everyone’s reaching in their bag or pocket at once!

Is this something we just have to put up with now? Do you ban phones with your friends?

Saga Magazine agony aunt Anne Robinson | Alun Callender — Alun Callender

Anne Robinson on rude friends using mobile phones

I am as intolerant as you are about friends wedded to their phones.

If I am in a business meeting, I don’t hesitate to ask the gathering to switch off their devices unless someone is expecting a response to an emergency. They never are.

I agree it is harder to be quite so dogmatic in a social situation.

But if the addicts are in the minority, I still believe you can politely say, “Let’s leave our phones on silent and enjoy the company”.

(Image credit: Image credit: Alun Callender)

Written by: Anne Robinson

Anne Robinson is a journalist, radio and television presenter best known as host of BBC's The Weakest Link for 12 years. A former assistant editor of the Daily Mirror, she has also presented Watchdog, Countdown and has a regular Radio 2 slot.
Anne has written columns for the UK biggest national newspapers and is Saga Magazine's no-nonsense agony aunt.

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