I’ve been having this conversation a fair amount lately, so I figured it was time to order some of my thought on it a little better and write it out a bit.

Put simply; our standards of social ettiquette, in general, are being outpaced by the technology which is now starting to dominate and define our social lives. How do we institute, or even determine, a new set of socially acceptable behavioural standards when they’re going to be out of date in a week? And should we?

Only a few short years ago, mobile phone use at social gatherings was still considered something a little bit faux pax, or just a way of letting everyone know that you were bored out of your brain. Let’s face it, mainly it’s because doing anything on older phones required someone else on the other end.

Since the release of smartphones, most particularly the iPhone, the use of your phone during a social event may actually mean that you are so entertained that you must tell everyone about it RIGHT NOW! Even if that means that you miss out the next amazing thing to happen.

Is that kind of sudden disconnect really something everyone’s okay with? Even if it signifies a really positive feeling towards the gathering? I find it a little annoying at times, to be honest.

Next up is the taking of photos. I’m not someone who thinks they’re horrible to look at (any more), but I don’t kid myself. I’m no stunner and I don’t pretend to be. So, when someone takes fifty thousand photos of me sitting, drinking and, usually, talking, I don’t exactly see an appealing image. Neither will someone looking at my facebook to assess me professionally or romantically (we all do it now, don’t fool yourself).

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a few photos of people to remember the night

But when I start to see thirty to fifty photos of me, side on, mid-word, I start to get a little unimpressed and I know for a fact I’m not the only one.

The final one I’m going to talk about here is Facebook’s checking in feature.

Now, it’s bad enough that some people check in at their own houses, seemingly unaware that they have just announced to the world what their address is, but when people do it at other people’s houses, that has to be crossing a line, surely.

Not just that, but when you’re out, surely you should ask people to make sure they’re comfortable with you checking them in to wherever you are. Not everyone has to know where you are right now, let alone all you hapless friends who you’ve just tagged there.

Surely we can all at least use some common sense and courtesy, even if we can’t establish some kind of ettiquette about these things?

EDIT: Can we also come to some consensus about Facebook hijacking? At least make it more interesting than tagging yourself or vaguely bigoted sexual commentary.