Phone off at meals — rule or rudeness?

Rule? No. Rude if you do it? Absolutely yes.

There's a real difference between a strict rule and basic politeness. You don't need a household law to know scrolling through Instagram while someone's talking is rude.

Adults should be able to make their own choices about their phones. If someone wants to check texts at dinner, that's between them and whoever they're eating with.

I live alone tho, so... not sure this applies to me either way

People act like it's some kind of tyranny. Just put the phone away for 30 minutes. It's respect.