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Phone-free restaurants are trending across the US

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Phone-free restaurants are trending across the US

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You sit down for dinner. The menus arrive. And instead of everyone reaching for their phones, something different happens. People actually start talking. That is the whole point. Across the U.S., a growing number of bars and restaurants are asking customers to put their phones away. Some offer incentives. Others go further and lock devices in pouches. The goal stays the same. Create a space where people actually connect. This is not happening by accident. It reflects a broader shift in how people think about screens, attention and time together.

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COWBOY CHEF SAYS PHONES AND SCREENS AT DINNER ARE TEARING AMERICAN FAMILIES APART

More restaurants are asking diners to put phones away to encourage real conversation and reduce distractions at the table. (David Silverman/Getty Images)

Why phone-free restaurants are gaining popularity

The push toward phone-free spaces reflects a bigger change in how people think about technology. Research continues to link heavy smartphone use with lower attention spans, weaker memory and reduced social connection. As a result, schools, governments and businesses are rethinking when phones belong in the room. At the same time, daily habits show just how attached people have become. Recent data from Consumer Affairs shows Americans check their phones about 144 times a day and spend roughly 4.5 hours on them. That kind of constant interruption adds up. It changes how we experience meals, conversations and even live events. So people are starting to push back.

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Who is driving the shift to phone-free dining

You might expect older generations to lead this shift. The opposite is happening. Gen Z is driving much of the change. A December 2025 survey from Talker Research found 63% of Gen Z say they intentionally disconnect from devices. Millennials follow at 57%. Generation X comes in at 42%, while baby boomers trail at 29%. That matters because Gen Z shapes culture, especially when it comes to social habits. When they decide something feels better offline, businesses notice. And businesses are adapting quickly.

Where phone-free restaurants are popping up

Phone-free policies are no longer rare. At least 11 states now have restaurants or bars experimenting with restrictions or incentives. Washington, D.C., leads with several venues, while others appear in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York and Texas. Some places keep it simple. Put your phone away and enjoy the meal. Others take a stronger approach.

At a Charlotte cocktail bar called Antagonist, guests place their phones in locked pouches for about two hours. The idea is to remove the option entirely so people can focus on each other.

Meanwhile, upscale chain Delilah enforces a strict no phones, no posting policy across locations in cities like Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami. The goal is privacy and atmosphere.

Even fast food is testing the concept. A Chick-fil-A location in Towson Place, Maryland, offers free ice cream to families who keep their phones off the table. Different approaches, same idea. Less screen time, more presence. 

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SOLO DINING SURGES 52% AS AMERICANS EMBRACE ‘ME-ME-ME ECONOMY’ OVER SHARED MEALS

A growing number of bars and restaurants are limiting phone use as Americans rethink screen time and social connection. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

What happens in phone-free restaurants

Something subtle shifts when phones are out of reach. People stay in conversations longer. Meals feel more intentional. Even simple activities like playing a game or sharing a story take on more weight. One diner described the experience as rare. No notifications, no pressure to document the moment, no distraction. Just time with another person. Food experts say phones can pull attention away from the dining experience itself. When that distraction disappears, people often leave feeling like something meaningful actually happened. That feeling is what keeps customers coming back.

What this means to you

You do not need to visit a phone-free bar to feel what this shift is about. It is already showing up in our everyday lives. Think about the last time you sat down for dinner. You check your phone for a second. Then a message pops up. Before you know it, the conversation pauses and the moment slips away. That is exactly what many people are starting to notice and question. Try putting your phone away for a meal, even at home. You may find the conversation lasts longer. Things feel a little slower in a good way. You walk away feeling like you were actually there, not half distracted. This is likely just the beginning. More places may start limiting phone use, especially where the experience matters most.

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AI DATING CAFES ARE NOW A REAL THING

Phone-free dining is on the rise, with some venues locking devices to create a more focused, social experience. (Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

For years, phones have quietly taken over shared spaces. Restaurants, concerts and even small gatherings started to revolve around screens. Now the pendulum is swinging back. People are realizing that putting the phone down can change how a moment feels. It does not require a full digital detox. Sometimes it is just one meal, one conversation, one evening without distractions. That small shift can feel bigger than expected.

So here is the real question. When was the last time you had a meal where no one reached for their phone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

God of War Laufey is coming to the PS5

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God of War Laufey is coming to the PS5

Sony ended its big State of Play showcase with a major reveal: the next God of War. The new title is called God of War Laufey, and is once again developed by Sony’s Santa Monica Studio. Currently, the game doesn’t have a date, but it’s coming to the PS5 whenever it does launch.

This time, instead of perpetually furious dad Kratos, players will take control of Faye / Laufey, as the title implies. That means that while the tone of the game seems somewhat similar to past God of War titles, the gameplay looks quite different, with much more aerobatic action punctuated by magic instead of Kratos’ heavy violence. Also, there’s a giant, six-legged cat that can fly. And a talking gelatinous cube named Phranque that fights alongside you.

You can get a good look at the game in action with this lengthy 20-minute reveal video:

The new game is a shift for blockbuster video games, which for years have focused on stories about dads. With Faye’s starring role, it seems like moms are finally getting their due.

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Would you ride in Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi?

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Would you ride in Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi?

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Getting into a car with no one behind the wheel can be a little weird the first time. You know the car is supposed to drive itself, but part of you no doubt may still feel uneasy.

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Waymo is trying to make that moment feel less anxious with its new Ojai robotaxi. It has more room to stretch out, bigger screens to control the ride and a cabin built for passengers from the very start.

That could make a real difference. If driverless rides are going to become something you actually use, they need to feel safe, simple and comfortable once the doors close.

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CHINA’S FIRST MASS-PRODUCED FLYING CAR DEBUTS

Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi is designed around passengers, with more legroom, bigger screens and accessibility features. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Waymo Ojai robotaxi rides will start with select riders

Waymo says the first public Ojai rides will begin in the coming weeks. Select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix will get the first chance to try it. The rides will be free for a limited time while Waymo gathers feedback and refines the experience. Access will then expand gradually to more riders and more cities.

Waymo also says Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego are on its expansion list before the company opens the doors wider later this year. For now, interested riders can use the Waymo app and sign up as a Trusted Tester.

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Waymo’s new driverless vehicle puts riders first

The Ojai looks like Waymo’s attempt to rethink what a robotaxi should feel like from the inside. Instead of feeling like a regular car with self-driving tech added in, the Ojai was built around the rider experience. Waymo describes it as a more expansive cabin with extra legroom, a flat floor and a low step-in height. That could help when you are carrying groceries, traveling with luggage or getting in and out with less mobility.

WAYMO TEAMS UP WITH WAZE TO SPOT POTHOLES FASTER

Inside the Waymo Ojai robotaxi cabin

The Ojai cabin gives riders three large adaptive screens. You can use them to adjust parts of the ride, including the temperature and music.

Waymo also added charging ports and cupholders. Those may sound like small touches, but they are the things you notice once you are actually sitting in the back seat.

Waymo says the Ojai cabin includes a flat floor, low step-in height, Braille, grab bars and screen-reader compatibility. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Waymo Ojai accessibility features could help more riders

Waymo also says the Ojai was designed with accessibility in mind from the start. The vehicle has a flat floor, a low step-in height, Braille, grab bars and screen-reader compatibility.

Those details can make a ride easier for someone who needs a little more support getting in or out. They can also help older riders, passengers with disabilities or anyone juggling bags, groceries or a tired kid after a long day.

UBER UNVEILS A NEW ROBOTAXI WITH NO DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL

Waymo’s 6th-generation Driver debuts in the Ojai

The Ojai will be the first vehicle to use Waymo’s sixth-generation Waymo Driver. That is the company’s autonomous driving technology.

Waymo says this new generation will help it operate in snowier cities and bring fully autonomous rides to more communities. Snow, slush and messy weather can challenge autonomous vehicles in ways sunny streets cannot. If Waymo can handle those conditions safely, it could expand far beyond the warmer markets where robotaxis have had an easier start.

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Waymo’s Arizona factory could help robotaxis expand

Waymo says its Mesa, Arizona, factory is getting ready to build tens of thousands of vehicles each year. The Ojai will come first, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5. That matters because robotaxi services need vehicles. Lots of them.

The Ojai also includes practical changes that could help Waymo keep a larger fleet on the road. Waymo points to easier-to-clean interiors, faster charging, increased battery capacity and a more modular design for maintenance and repairs.

Those details may not sound exciting, but they matter if robotaxis are going to move beyond a handful of cities. The easier these vehicles are to charge, clean and repair, the easier it may be for Waymo to bring them to more riders.

WAYMO VEHICLES ‘PUTTING AMERICAN LIVES AT RISK,’ SOURCE WARNS AMID AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE COMPANY’S MASSIVE RECALL

The Waymo Ojai debuts the company’s sixth-generation autonomous driving system as it looks to expand robotaxi service. (Jason Henry/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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What this means to you

If you already ride with Waymo, the Ojai could make your next trip feel more comfortable. The bigger difference may be how normal the ride feels once you are inside. If you have never taken a driverless ride, the Ojai may become your first real temptation. The extra space and rider-friendly features could make the idea easier to try.

But there is still a comfort gap for many riders. You are stepping into a vehicle with no human driver. That makes comfort important, but safety still drives the whole decision. That question feels especially timely. Waymo recently paused freeway rides in several U.S. cities while it works on software updates tied to construction zones and flooded roads. Surface-street service has continued, but the pause is a reminder that even advanced robotaxis still face many challenges out there on the road.

Waymo says riders have taken more than 20 million fully autonomous trips across 11-plus cities. The Ojai now gives the company another chance to prove that driverless rides can feel safe, useful and normal for more of us.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi shows where driverless rides are heading next. The car still has to get you from point A to point B safely, but now Waymo is also trying to make the ride feel easier, roomier and more comfortable once you get inside. I like that Waymo is thinking about the rider experience, not only the driving technology. The extra space, accessibility features and rider controls could help those who have been curious but hesitant. Still, trust is a huge hurdle. A nicer cabin may make the ride more comfortable, but Waymo still has to prove that a car with no driver can handle the messy, unpredictable roads we all deal with every day.

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Would you climb into Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi for a free ride, or do driverless cars still have more to prove before you would trust one? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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The best Switch 2 screen protector you should buy

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The best Switch 2 screen protector you should buy

A glass screen protector is one of a few essential accessories that I strongly recommend to every Switch 2 owner. In fact, it should be a priority to stick one onto the console’s screen as soon as possible to avoid accidental scratches.

To test the candidates below, I installed and removed Switch 2 screen protectors on my console at an alarming rate, more than any sane person should, and here are the most important takeaways:

Of the options below, it’s easiest to recommend amFilm’s three-pack of glossy screen protectors. Not only is the pack affordable ($9.99 from Amazon), but the tray also allows for perfect alignment of the glass protector for easy, bubble-free installation. I’ve used this company’s screen protectors on various gadgets for years, and I particularly like its glossy option over the matte finish, since it lets the Switch 2’s screen fully shine through.

Update, June 2nd: Adjusted prices as needed.

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