XX or XXX? Phone etiquette jumps the shark

A new survey compiled by TalkTalk Mobile has found that using the wrong amount of kisses in a text message is the biggest mistake made by couples when it comes to romantic phone etiquette.

With so much of our lives occurring on our mobiles, it’s important to understand the do’s and don’ts when developing a relationship on the go. According to a study of more than 1000 Brits, other relationship-killers included answering your phone during dinner, having your phone switched on in the cinema and texting pointless small talk.

Jo Bryant, Etiquette Expert at Debretts, who helped conduct the survey said, “Mobile phones allow us to communicate instantly, with ease and spontaneity, but as the TalkTalk Mobile survey results show, consideration for others is essential for good mobile phone manners.”

Other notable outcomes included the fact that over half of British men believe that it is acceptable to end a relationship over text, as opposed to 62 per cent of women who feel that only face-to-face break-ups are acceptable.

The study also revealed regional differences, with those in the South West found to be the most needy partners and most likely to send multiple texts before receiving a response. The Welsh, by contrast, are the most likely to play “hard to get,” with some leaving it nearly a week before responding.

Overall, more than three quarters of those surveyed said they had good mobile phone romance etiquette. However, with 40 per cent admitting to having completely misinterpreted a text, it seems like it’s always a good idea to think twice before hitting send.