How ‘Phubbing’ Or Phone Snubbing Hurts Relationships And Mental Health

The cultural phenomenon called “phubbing” may not be widely known, but it’s most certainly widely practiced. It’s basically the habit of taking out one’s phone in the middle of a conversation or when simply hanging out with someone. Even during those occasions when the one committing the phubbing is still talking to their companion, great damage is already being done in that moment.

Short for phone snubbing, phubbing constitutes a huge breach of conversation etiquette that humans have established throughout the centuries. When talking, people are supposed to face the speaker, focus on what they are saying, and occasionally make eye contact. None of these are possible when phubbing and as a recent study notes about the practice, it’s incredibly harmful.

“This research experimentally investigated the social consequences of ‘phubbing’ – the act of snubbing someone in a social setting by concentrating on one's mobile phone. Participants viewed a three‐minute animation in which they imagined themselves as part of a dyadic conversation. Their communication partner either phubbed them extensively, partially or not at all,” the study reads.

“Results revealed that increased phubbing significantly and negatively affected perceived communication quality and relationship satisfaction. These effects were mediated by reduced feelings of belongingness and both positive and negative affect. This research underlines the importance of phubbing as a modern social phenomenon to be further investigated.”

As Time magazine outlines, many of the harmful effects of this practice include making people feel less connected and even affects the mental health of the people getting “phubbed,” as it were. Ignoring someone during a conversation or when simply being in the same place in favor of a smartphone can make the party on the receiving end of the snub feel ostracized and undervalued.

Even the people doing the phubbing can be affected by the act in negative ways. Food becomes less enjoyable, for example, and having company becomes less meaningful.