Research: Majority of Dutch people annoyed by phones at the table

For many families, the dining table is still the heart of the home and a place to truly spend time together. Yet an uninvited guest is increasingly joining the meal: the mobile phone. Research by Table du Sud shows that most Dutch people are bothered by this. Using a phone at the table not only causes irritation, but also raises concerns about its impact on children.

Eating together should be truly together again

Although dinner time is traditionally a moment of contact and attention for one another, many Dutch people feel that smartphones disrupt this togetherness. The research shows that no less than 84% are annoyed by phone use at the table and 82% feel it reduces the quality of conversations. Only a small minority say they are not bothered by it (16%) or consider it normal to use a phone during meals (13%). Nearly four in ten Dutch people (39%) also say that their family members or housemates use their phones at the table more often than they do. Something that can lead to friction within households.

Parents want to set a better example at the table

Besides annoyance, there is particular concern about the influence of phone use on children. A striking 90% of Dutch people believe that children develop poor social habits if phones at the table become normalised. According to behavioural scientists, this concern is justified.

“The use of phones at the table highlights how important parental role-modelling is,” says Wouter van den Bos, Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Amsterdam. “Parents often unconsciously show that screens are more important than social interaction. Parenting starts with setting a good example: children learn by observing and imitating. Those who put their phone away during meals show how valuable attention to one another is, and help children develop social skills and concentration.”

Women stricter than men about phones at the table

The research also shows that women are stricter about phone use at the table than men. 91% of women are annoyed by it, compared with 77% of men. A small difference can also be seen in the belief that phone use reduces the quality of conversations: 86% of women agree, compared with 79% of men. And when it comes to parenting, mothers are slightly more critical: 91% of women believe that using phones at the table sets a bad example, compared with 89% of men.

Phone-free dining fits a broader trend

Annoyance about phones at the table does not stand alone. Society as a whole shows a growing desire for calm, attention and connection. Earlier research (Metro, 2023) found that in more than half of Dutch households, phones are banned during meals. In addition, one in four Dutch people describe their screen time as “unhealthy” and 30% acknowledge that phone use comes at the expense of attention for others (Netwerk Mediawijsheid, 2024).

“A shared meal is much more than just eating together,” says Teun Antonissen, co-founder of Table du Sud. “It’s a moment of connection, of being present with one another. When phones disrupt those moments, something essential is lost.”

Screen-free togetherness becoming the new norm

The attention for screen-free moments is not limited to families. In other settings too, the need for calm and focus is increasing. Since 1 January 2024, mobile phones have in principle been banned in classrooms to improve concentration and social interaction (Rijksoverheid, 2023). The same desire for attention and connection is reflected at the dinner table. While schools opt for a phone ban to improve the learning environment, more and more families are choosing to make their mealtimes screen-free. It shows a broader movement in which people try to reduce digital distractions.

About the research

The research was conducted in July 2025 on behalf of Table du Sud. In total, 1,003 Dutch residents completed a questionnaire about their experiences and views regarding phone use during shared meals. The sample is representative by age, gender, and region.