I went to the movies tonight (using tickets I bought at a discount at the warehouse store and purchased using reward points) and the person sitting directly in front of me kept checking his smartphone all throughout the movie. This was a two hour suspense thriller that cost $12 a ticket (if they didn't buy it at a discount like me) and this person was so addicted to their smartphone that they couldn't leave it in their pocket during the film. People are mindless zombies when it comes to their technology.
My best example: I occasionally chaperone the prom. Our high school students -- girls especially -- obsess for months over the dress, the jewelry, the shoes. After a lovely dinner, they're with all their high school friends at a social event . . . yet at any given point, 1/4 of the kids are sitting down at the tables staring at their phones.
My own kids see it. Not long ago my youngest child and I drove up to my oldest's college town just to spend the afternoon with her. While we were out to lunch, one of my kids noted that we were the ONLY table in the restaurant NOT using phones during the meal.
