The benefits of social connection and spending time with loved ones go beyond just emotional and mental well-being, as they can also support physical health. However, the modern habit of using smartphones during social interactions, also known as “phubbing,” has the potential to weaken relationships over time. Phubbing involves compulsively using a phone so much so that it interferes with in-person interactions, leading to negative effects on both the phubber and the person being phubbed. Signs of phubbing include taking your phone everywhere, prioritizing your phone over in-person interactions, feeling anxious when not on your phone, using your phone to process emotions, and feeling worse while using your phone. Phubbing can create feelings of being dismissed or ignored in the person being phubbed, leading to loneliness and resentment. It has also been linked to decreased relationship satisfaction and depression. The behavior can hinder the formation of new relationships and can negatively impact romantic ties. The reasons behind phubbing may include a lack of self-control, internet addiction, fear of missing out (FOMO), passive-aggressive behavior, low emotional intelligence, anxiety, or avoidance. Ultimately, phubbing reflects a devaluation of in-person relationships in favor of the easy escape of digital connection.
