"Get your head out of your apps" (smartphone…

“Get your head out of your apps” is a saying that has been printed on many images. It’s a pun on “get your head out of your ass.”

The saying was first used to advise people addicted to smartphones. “Get your head out of your apps” was posted on Twitter by Dan Nee on July 17, 2010. “Yo, get your head out of your apps! People of Whole Foods” was posted on Twitter by Amanda Caswell on July 18, 2010. “You know you’re spending too much time on your iPhone when you’re told to pull your head out of your apps” was posted on Twittter by John Sanchez on July 21, 2010. “Quote from Windows 7 Phone training: ‘Get your head out of your Apps’” was posted on Twitter by Todd Carter on December 6, 2010.

The saying was used by state traffic departments (specifically in Iowa and Tennessee) on road signs in 2014 to discourage distracted driving. “Great interstate messaging @iowadot ‘Get your head out of your apps’!” was posted on Twitter by Krystal Blum on September 29, 2014. “AMES, Iowa — If you’ve traveled on Highway 35 lately, you’ve probably noticed the electronic billboards with clever sayings. ‘Get you head out of your apps,’ the billboards said Monday” was posted on KCCI (Des Moines, IA) on September 30, 2014. “TDOT: ‘Eyes on the road and your head out of your apps’ - http://6.wate.com/1EGIZhP” (a sign is shown) was posted on Twitter by WATE 6 On Your Side on November 13, 2014.

Wikipedia: Web application
A web application (or web app) is application software that is accessed using a web browser. Web applications are delivered on the World Wide Web to users with an active network connection.

Wikipedia: Mobile app
A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on desktop computers, and web applications which run in mobile web browsers rather than directly on the mobile device.

Twitter
Dan Nee
@dannee74
Get your head out of your apps
11:18 AM · Jul 17, 2010

Twitter
Amanda Caswell
@AmandaCaswell
Yo, get your head out of your apps! People of Whole Foods.
11:09 AM · Jul 18, 2010

Twittter
John Sanchez
@JohnSanchez
You know you’re spending too much time on your iPhone when you’re told to pull your head out of your apps.
7:02 PM · Jul 21, 2010

Twitter
Todd Carter
@toddca
Quote from Windows 7 Phone training: “Get your head out of your Apps”
1:14 PM · Dec 6, 2010

Twitter
Michael G. Redfearn
@redfearn
“Get your head out of your apps” - love this quote - at Apple IOS presentation.
10:58 AM · Apr 14, 2011

Twitter
Colin Harris 
@digitalnative
Get your head out of your apps.
@mebemrpo coined term.
9:45 AM · Jun 28, 2011

Twitter
Jermain Noslin
@Sneakypedia
All you smartphone users need to get your head out of your apps
5:28 AM · Jan 21, 2012

Twitter
…
@hrobi36
Quit playing with your smartphone and get your head out of your apps.
10:13 PM · Jan 26, 2012

Twitter
John Hudson
@PerceptiveTiger
Bumper sticker: “Smartphone users: please get your head out of your apps” #quotes
11:40 PM · Apr 4, 2014

Twitter
Krystal Blum
@KrystalBlum
Great interstate messaging @iowadot
“Get your head out of your apps”! #passenger #roadtrip #vikings
1:27 AM · Sep 29, 2014

Twitter
Iowa State University Police Department
@ISUPD
Get your head out of your apps! Pay attention to the road and stay safe, #cyclONEnation!
(This is also shown on an image.—ed.)
10:08 AM · Sep 29, 2014

KCCI (Des Moines, IA)
These are catching everyone’s attention during commutes
Updated: 8:18 PM CDT Sep 30, 2014
Vanessa Peng
AMES, Iowa —
If you’ve traveled on Highway 35 lately, you’ve probably noticed the electronic billboards with clever sayings.

“Get you head out of your apps,” the billboards said Monday.

Every Monday there’s a new message on the boards, put on by the Department of Transportation, which the DOT hopes will save lives.

Twitter
Matthew Muenzen
@mattmuenzen
Highway sign on 65: KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD AND YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR APPS
10:23 AM · Oct 3, 2014

Twitter
Greg Arias
@GregAriasSports
Nice interstate sign from TDOT: Keep your eyes on the road and your head out of your APPS!
10:49 AM · Oct 3, 2014

Twitter
Will Stone
@williamstone
Tennessee road sign: “Eyes on the road and head out of your apps.”
11:22 AM · Oct 3, 2014

Twitter
GregSponberg
@GregSponberg
Message board on I-65: “EYES ON THE ROAD AND YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR APPS.” #GoodAdvice #InterestingApproach
11:57 AM · Nov 12, 2014

Twitter
WATE 6 On Your Side
@6News
TDOT: ‘Eyes on the road and your head out of your apps’ - http://6.wate.com/1EGIZhP
(The following text is shown on a message board over a highway.—ed.)
EYES ON THE ROAD
AND YOUR HEAD
OUT OF YOUR APPS
12:44 PM · Nov 13, 2014

Newspapers.com
17 November 2014, News Sentinel (Knoxville, TN), “TDOT signs demand attention” by Jessica Bliss, pg. 1A, col. 3:
When you’re driving, here’s a request: Keep your “eyes on the road and your head out of your apps.”

That is the latest digital road-sign quip from Tennessee’s Department of Transportation, which continues its communication campaign designed to grab attention and possibly change driving habits.

Twitter
Det/Cst Ken Steeves
@Lifesgood911
Keep your eyes on the road and your head out of your apps! #DontTextandDrive
(The following text is shown on a message board over a highway.—ed.)
EYES ON THE ROAD
AND YOUR HEAD
OUT OF YOUR APPS
5:12 PM · Nov 17, 2014

Twitter
Fresh Green Light
@freshgreenlight
Eyes on the road and keep your head out of your apps. Via@tn511 #passengerpics
(The following text is shown on a message board over a highway.—ed.)
EYES ON THE ROAD
AND YOUR HEAD
OUT OF YOUR APPS
2:20 PM · Dec 1, 2014

Twitter
Fun Nashville
@FunNashville
Nashville road sign: “Eyes on the road and your head out of your apps.” http://ow.ly/FOppN More: http://goo.gl/fiKcNE
3:10 PM · Dec 28, 2014

YouTube
‘Get your head out of your apps’ enforcement underway
Denver7
Mar 26, 2015
More than 30 people were cited last weekend and police say “It’s going to be in your face on a regular basis.” 3.26.15 5:45 a.m.

NBA News
Utah DOT’s ‘Get Your Head Out of Your Apps’ Signs Get Mixed Reviews
The play on the less-than-G-rated phrase involving one’s derrière left some Utah drivers unamused.
Nov. 10, 2015, 2:21 PM EST / Updated Nov. 10, 2015, 3:40 PM EST
By Elisha Fieldstadt
A punny public service announcement on Utah roads is raising eyebrows.

As part of the Utah Department of Transportation’s “Message Monday” program, the department devised a message for electronic road signs that read: “Get Your Head Out Of Your Apps.”

YouTube
Get Your Head Out of Your Apps
Driver’s Alert
Jan 13, 2016
Driver’s Alert launches it’s first Public Service Announcement (PSA) on distracted driving.

Every year in the U.S. more than 4,000 fatalities and 400,000 injuries result from distracted driving. Something as simple as taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds to read a text means your car will travel the full length of a football field at highway speeds—without you even looking at where you are going.

Twitter
Z 28.310
@Wernick4Dallas
Maybe that’s why we don’t know about it. We’re watching the road while trying to avoid panhandlers. As
@TxDOT advises, “Get your head out of your apps. Drive safely.”
(A traffic sign is shown.—ed.)
12:05 PM · Mar 29, 2023

Twitter
Pam Anzaldi
@MsAquarius210
Get your head out of your apps! Drive safely! From the Minnesota Department of Transportation! #MNDOT
12:13 PM · Mar 31, 2023

Facebook
Indian Hills Community Sign
May 25, 2023 at 12:06 PM ·
(The following text is shown on a sign.—ed.)
EYES ON
THE ROAD
AND HEAD
OUT OF
YOUR APPS

“Get your head out of your apps” (smartphone message)