There’s a new workplace epidemic spreading faster than a viral TikTok. That is that of  “texting while meeting”. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that CEOs are fed up with it, and honestly, I get it. You look around the conference room (or Zoom screen), and what do you see? Eyes darting down, fingers fluttering, that telltale screen glow lighting up faces like a campfire of distraction.

Now, the question isn’t if people are texting. The question is what they’re texting. Are they sending snarky play-by-plays to their work bestie? (“Did she really just say synergy again?”). Are they whispering digitally to their partner to pick up oat milk and dog treats? Or are they firing off directives to staff based on the meeting discussion, trying to look proactive only to find out the strategy completely changed ten minutes later? Cue the “Oops, un-copy that!” moment.

From a psychological perspective, this whole texting-while-meeting trend is a case study in divided attention and cognitive overload. Our brains like to think we’re great at multitasking and that we can both absorb nuanced discussions on budget restructuring and type out a witty text about the awful coffee. But neuroscience is clear:l. Multitasking is a myth. What we’re really doing is “task-switching,” and every switch comes with a cognitive cost. Think of it as paying a small tax every time you hop between your brain tabs.

And then there’s the perception problem. You may think you’re being efficient by supposedly multitasking like a digital demigod but to others, it can look like you’re disinterested, dismissive, or disengaged. There’s a subtle social contract in meetings. We agree to show up not just physically, but mentally. Texting breaks that contract, even when the intentions are noble.

Still, I get it. The urge to get ahead, to be responsive, to not let your inbox or team pile up is real. The dopamine hit from checking off a quick task while someone drones on about KPIs is irresistible. But maybe we need to reclaim the art of being present even in those soul-sucking meetings.

Perhaps it’s time for a new meeting mantra: “Eyes up, thumbs down.” Listen, absorb, and then text later. The road to efficiency isn’t paved with emojis and hasty directives. It’s paved with attention, nuance, and maybe a few fewer “un-copy that” moments.

So the next time you’re in a meeting and that texting itch hits, remember that the best message might just be the one you don’t send.