The Luxury of a Screen-Free Dinner
The TV is on and at least one person is scrolling on their phone – this is how a typical shared dinner looks in most Hungarian households, according to the findings of KOMETA’s latest nationally representative survey*. Only three out of ten Hungarians eat together every day with family members or close friends while focusing exclusively on each other.
Although one in twenty Hungarians experiences shared meals as stressful, for the vast majority they still represent relaxation and emotional recharge. However, many people are highly dependent on their phones – and true connection is nearly impossible with a device constantly in hand. Among parents raising pre-teens, one quarter admit they would not be able to part with their phone even for a single hour.
54% of Hungarians Could Only Go Without Their Phone for a Maximum of One Day
The larger the city someone lives in, the less likely they are to share a daily meal with close family members without background noise or phone use. While 38% of people living in villages enjoy the true experience of shared meals every day, this drops to 29% in cities and 27% in county seats. In Budapest, only one in five residents (21%) eat daily in a family or friendly setting that also provides emotional recharge and care.
In three out of ten households, the television is on during meals. In every fourth household, at least one person – and sometimes everyone – is using their phone during shared meals. Only three out of ten respondents reported screen-free dinners with genuine mutual attention.
Mobile dependence runs deep: 18% of respondents said they would not be able to last even a single minute if their phone could only be used for calls. One in five could manage for a maximum of one hour, and a similar proportion could go without watching videos or scrolling social media for at most one day. According to the survey, the most affected age group from a role-model perspective – people in their forties – are the most dependent: one in four admits they could not spend any time at all without their phone.
Shared Meals Could Be the Most Liberating Part of the Day
“Our research shows that in most Hungarian households, screens divert attention even during meals, despite the fact that these occasions are crucial for both physical and mental well-being. Studies also confirm that the more frequently someone has the opportunity to enjoy positive shared lunches or dinners with family and friends, the more balanced they become and the healthier eating habits they develop,” said Adam Dobos, marketing manager of KOMETA.
The central element of the company’s latest campaign is the “phone hiding board.” KOMETA aims to encourage people sitting around the table to turn meals into genuine shared experiences – moments that are about delicious food, but equally about attention and connection. Before sitting down, they invite families to set their phones aside – for example, in KOMETA’s specially designed promotional “phone hiding board.”
The demand for shared meals is clear: Hungarians associate them far more with positive than negative emotions. According to the survey, 68% say shared meals mean being together with those who matter most. Six out of ten believe these occasions create space for conversation and connection. For one in four respondents, shared meals are one of the most carefree parts of the day – a time for enjoyment, relaxation and unwinding.
At the same time, 22% sadly note that shared meals are becoming increasingly rare in their lives. A smaller proportion admit they do not particularly desire to sit at the same table with loved ones, as shared meals represent logistical tasks (8%), obligatory routines (6%) or even sources of stress (5%).
If We’re Not Talking, We’re Watching
Half of respondents claim they do nothing else during meals – focusing only on food or company. However, this is less true for younger generations. Two-thirds of 16–29 year-olds, 64% of people in their thirties, and 59% of those in their forties scroll TikTok, read news or watch videos even when they are not eating alone.
Among those who admit they cannot or do not want to focus solely on eating and each other, most watch films or videos (73%). This is followed by social media scrolling (27%), reading news (24%), chatting (18%), online gaming (12%), and even working during shared meals (8%).
