What is phubbing, the annoying habit that can ruin relationships?

Today, we’re talking about a new phenomenon that affects social interactions. Phubbing is something we've all likely experienced or done ourselves at some point. The term is a portmanteau of "phone" and "snubbing", and refers to the act of looking at your phone instead of paying attention to someone else in a social situation.

It’s becoming increasingly common as our reliance on our mobile devices continues to grow. The term was first introduced in 2012 by Australian advertising agency Maccann Erickson, as part of a campaign for the Macquarie Dictionary. The “A Word is Born” campaign was designed to demonstrate that language is constantly evolving and hence having an up-to-date dictionary is important.

Where does the term come from? Why do people phub then? How can we avoid phubbing someone? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

Is wine in cans better for the environment?

What is the Dunning Kruger effect, the phenomenon that causes overconfidence?

Why does time go by faster with age?

A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices