Phubbing: What It Is and How to Stop
Phubbing is snubbing the person in front of you for your phone. Why it stings, how to stop if you're the phubber, and what to say if you're being phubbed.
You’re mid-story and your friend glances at their phone. Then scrolls. Then says “sorry, go on”. That’s phubbing: phone + snubbing. Ignoring the person in front of you for your phone.
We’ve all done it. Here’s how to stop.
Why it stings
Even a quick glance tells the other person “something on here might be more interesting than you”. Most of us don’t mean that. It’s just habit.
If you’re the phubber
- Phone away, not just face down. Bag or pocket. Out of sight works better than face down on the table.
- Say it out loud when you need to check: “sorry, just need to reply to my mum”. It turns a snub into a quick, polite pause.
- Notifications off when you’re with people.
- Notice your triggers. Lulls in conversation? Boredom? Ordering food?
If you’re being phubbed
- Keep it light: “Am I losing to TikTok right now?”
- Suggest the phone stack next time.
- Talk about it at a calm moment, not mid-glance.
Make it a group thing
Phubbing is easiest to fix when everyone agrees to it. Snitch lets you and your friends share a daily screen time pot. Go over, and it eats into everyone’s time, so the whole group has a reason to put phones away together.