One of the most annoying—not to mention completely anti-social—things to do in a group setting is have your eyes glued to your smartphone screen. Sure, the LED of your BlackBerry will blink, and your iPhone will keep pushing notifications, but you don’t have to check them each time, do you?

CNN’s ‘Netiquette’ column tells you just when and why it’s absolutely wrong to whip out your phone. Some are pretty straightforward—texting while having sex is a big no—while others, like expecting a call during a group dinner, might toe the line.

Either way, a New York Times article explains just how these digital screens are invading every aspect of our lives—and this isn’t good. We get fatigued with the barrage of information, and nothing much can be stored in our memory in the long run. Might explain all those note-taking apps out there now.

Be Polite and Put Your Smartphone Down [CNN]

Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime [NYTimes]

Apple's iPad to Remain King of Tablets: Researcher [Reuters]

As Video Chat Takes Off, So Do its Uses [LA Times]

Plug In, Turn On and Tune Out WiFi [NYTimes]