Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 09 May, 2019
By: Paula Chao

On Mother’s Day, mothers have one big wish: No phones at the table

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. In Taiwan, a lot of people treat their mothers to a fancy meal on this day. But Taiwanese mothers these days care less about the meal itself and more about whether their children spend the meal on their phones.

Put your phones away! That’s the message from Taiwanese mothers this Mother’s Day. Mothers say they want their children to pay attention as they enjoy a Mother’s Day meal together, and that all they want is a good chat with their kids.

It sounds like a simple enough request, but for many, it may be a tall order. A survey found that the cellphone addition rate in Taiwan surged to almost 90% last year, up from 36% in 2011. The survey found that 75% of people use their phones at meals, 70% do so while watching TV, and 57% do so at work or in class.

Mother’s hoping for a break from phones may want to book ahead at one restaurant that’s become known for its cellphone-free philosophy. The wait staff there encourage customers to put their phones away and enjoy the food in front of them.
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