I don't think it's age groups as much of classes of people. Certain people of all ages are glued to a screen and certain people have manners.

> classes of people

Yeah no...

You got downvoted for this for using the term “class” but I tend to agree. In this context it has nothing to do with how much money you make. I have know classy broke people and trashy rich people. For me, using your phone at all during a meal better be met with an apology and, likely, some reason offered to the group, the same as if you jumped up and ran out the door. Mentally, that’s what picking up your phone is.

It's perfectly acceptable to take a phone out at a table everywhere I've traveled.

It's rude to be glued to your phone everywhere I've traveled; or to talk on a phone during a meal.

Which is also why I said TFA missed the reason by a mile. "Everyone knows it’s rude to take a phone out at a table" isn't true at all; and demonstrates that the author is out of touch with the general public's relationship with tech.