It is undeniable that technology has become a necessity in today’s lives. But it is also undeniable that there are effects of too much reliability in technology. Sometimes, our relationship with people around us is what is affected by most of it.
Our smartphones are slowly transforming the norms of human behaviour as we now use our smartphones on many tasks that make our lives easy.
Phubbing is a term used when we snub others in favour of our mobile phones; maybe many of us have the experience of being a victim or even being a proprietor – it is simply phone snubbing.
It is happening to us without knowing the term to call it, and this is all due to the rapidly increasing rate of mobile phones and the internet. We are all so overwhelmed with our gadgets that sometimes our relationship is the one suffering.
This behaviour can be done with everyone we encounter. This dependency on smartphones is associated with many psychological factors; the more frequent phubbing, the more it is connected to addiction, depression, fear of missing out, and self-control.
Is this behaviour seem a big deal? As simple as it may, this behaviour causes conflicts in marriages and friendships and significantly impacts our different personal relationships.
Phubbing has a more significant effect on the receiving end. When phubbed, we feel rejected, kept out, and unnecessary. After receiving such behaviour, phubbed also start to use their phones to fill the void and then the cycle goes on and on.
How to know if you are a phubber? It is simple if you are carrying your phone in your hand. You also master the art of carrying on two conversations – the conversation in person and on your phone. Even in social settings, you always bring out your phone. You know that you cannot pass having a meal without checking on your phone. Just the presence of our phones makes the people around us less connected.
If we already caught ourselves being a phubber, how do we start to end this? Start by making a rule of having no phone during meals, following by leaving your phones behind, and challenge yourself.
On the other hand, if we want to help someone to stop being a phubber, start by being a good example, tell them that they are not behaving properly since phubbing is not a real addiction, be sympathetic to them because it is an impulse problem – explain to them how phubbing makes you feel.
Whether we know it or not, we’ve all been phubbed and been a phubber. Phubbing is a big sign of problematic technology use. This behaviour becomes troublesome when it begins to interfere with our daily lives. It is a natural and human need to communicate with others.
After all, all we want is a meaningful conversation and connection, and we cherish every moment, whether virtually or physically. Do some reflection, are you a phubber? Do you want to be phubbed?
Dina Relojo is the social media manager of Psychreg. She is a high school teacher from the Philippines.
