With social media being the main avenue for shaming people for over major and relatively inoffensive behaviors, it’s no wonder that some of us may begin questioning our own decisions.

Who wants to end up being the subject of a viral shaming fest? You’ve seen the stories about someone being shamed for their parenting choices, their body, or their jobs. In the mounting pile of social shaming categories, there also lies that of tipping.

Ever the controversial topic of conversations, the act of tipping has gone the way of automation with some businesses using iPads or iPhones to encourage the practice. You know what we’re talking about, don’t you?

You go to pick up your takeout order from a local restaurant, swipe/insert your card, and then it asks you how much of a tip you want to add, typically giving you three percentages to choose from. Several things might happen next.

One: you could pick one of the tipping amounts and add it to be nice – or out of guilt. Two: you begin to sweat internally, wondering if you should tip for a $6 carton of lo mein, and guiltily decline (or guiltily tip). Or you feel nothing and all and do what the heck you want.

For many customers, this electronic tipping option is an awkward on-the-spot decision that has to be completed with the device spun around to your face or handed to you. Not all merchants do things this way with a digital payment platform (e.g. Square), but many that do are enjoying an increase in their spoils.

It boils down to psychology. When customers feel pressure to do something like leaving a tip, – no matter if or how a service was received – they will. There are some businesses who understand the conundrum and won’t give the payment device to the client at all.

Instead, they’ll pop the card in and complete the transaction, giving the buyer a pressure-free choice of whether or not they want to tip. That’s why you may still see old-school tip jars on the counter. And there are some cashiers who don’t like the feeling of watching someone decide on the iPad tip. It gets uncomfortable for everyone.

However, there are also patrons who don’t mind the practice and find it a convenient way to tip a service worker. There’s no math involved and no awkward interaction as people who work there (or those in line behind you) wait to see how much of a tip will be left.

Two things can’t be denied: the advent of electronic payments has changed tipping culture and businesses are profiting from it. Bear in mind that the tip prompt you encounter is at the discretion of the merchant who decides whether or not to enable the function.

Perhaps this has happened to you when buying a cup of coffee, a single doughnut, or a smoothie.  Perhaps you’re a business owner who uses this ritual yourself.  Either way, we’d like to know what you think about it.

Do you feel obligated to leave a tip when paying on a mobile device? Are you in favor of the practice or not?