‘Phubbing’ in public is new trend everyone is doing without even realising

There are plenty of annoying trends and habits that people in public but 'phubbing' might be the one that ruins your relationship entirely.

Although things like picking your nose or playing loud music in public without headphones is certainly on a long list of red flags that exist these days, phubbing is something that nearly every young person is guilty of.

When heading out on a date with your significant other, or someone you're trying to win over, it's not rocket science that you need to have all your focus on that other person.

But in a generation that is increasingly glued to their phones, even during more intimate acts with a partner, it seems as if many are neglecting the outside world are instead entirely focused on what's happening on their screen.

Phubbing, which is a mix between phone and snubbing, might feel a little Black Mirror in its description but we've probably all done it at one point or another, whether it's checking the football scores or checking in with the group chat gossip.

As much as we might turn our noses up at something like this, it seems to be extremely common and is probably something that we've all been guilty of at one point or another.

It's important to focus on your partner rather than your phone (Getty Stock)

A 2023 study found that this behaviour isn't just rude but it is likely also causing strife in your relationship, because it turns out that sitting next to each other and doomscrolling isn't actually spending time with each other.

The study’s authors explained: “The phenomenon of phubbing, which hits individuals’ social interactions, is an important risk factor for romantic relationships.

“In other words, partners’ being too busy with their smartphones during their romantic relationships harms relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality.”

But that's not all; as well as romantic satisfaction, phubbing can have a negative effect on life satisfaction too. This means, phubbing could be making your partner more miserable in their day to day life too.

The paper went on: “The results… indicate that partner 'phubbing' had a significant indirect effect on life satisfaction through perceived romantic relationship quality and relationship satisfaction.

“These results reveal that relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality decrease in individuals who are exposed to partner phubbing behaviours, and that decreased relationship satisfaction and romantic relationship quality harm life satisfaction.”

Maybe the phones are the problem (Getty Stock)

It's not just you or your other half that's sick of this habit however, as people are taking it to the next level and staring at their phones during conversations with strangers, which suggests that we really might be finished as a species.

Speaking to the Metro, shop owner Rouz G Habibi called it a constant frustration, saying: "They walk in on their phones, order on their phones, sit down on their phones. They don’t even look up when you’re serving them. I find it very rude and, honestly, quite sad.

"As a business owner, I really do understand. I have to be on my phone so much, so I do get it. But if I’m speaking to a human being in front of me, I always try and make a point of not being on my phone."

Considering how many people online claim to want to live in the moment, perhaps it's time we start following their advice and having some basic manners when it comes to other people and our phones.