Put Your Phone Down: What Is Phubbing?
Have you ever been talking to someone and they keep looking at their phone?
This is called "phubbing" — a mix of the words "phone" and "snubbing."
When a person is "phubbing," they're using their phone to look at the internet, check messages, play games and so on, instead of focusing on the conversation or spending time with the people they're with.
The term was first used back in 2012, when fewer people had smartphones.
Fewer than half of Americans had a smartphone back then, but it's believed that around 85% of Americans have a smartphone now.
And now that most people have smartphones, phubbing is a common problem.
Most people would agree that it's rude to be focused on your phone when you're spending time with another person — the UK's top etiquette expert William Hanson thinks so, too.
"Phubbing is a no-no!" he says.
"If you have arranged to go out with friends for a catch-up, focus on them and not your friends on your phone."
And there's even scientific evidence that phubbing can damage your relationships with others.
Studies have found that phubbing can make people feel excluded and ostracized, and those who "phub" are thought of as less polite and attentive.
And a 2023 study found that couples who "phubbed" more also reported less satisfaction in their marriages.
So science has shown that phubbing is not good for us — but why do we do it?
It might be because we are feeling bored, anxious or stressed.
Or it might be because we are addicted to checking our phones, especially social media.
Whatever the reason may be, phubbing is bad for our relationships and can make us miss out on real moments with the people around us.
So the next time you're spending time with a friend or family member, try and keep your phone out of sight!
