Parents urged to stop ‘phubbing’ in front of their kids

Scrolling through social media for “just a minute” can easily turn into an hour, but experts are warning parents that their screen habits may be sending a damaging message to their children.

The behaviour, known as phubbing, happens when someone ignores the person they’re with to focus on their phone. The term, blending “phone” and “snubbing”, was coined in 2012 as part of a “Stop Phubbing” campaign.

Psychologist Mary Alvord, co-author of Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens, told Very Well Mind that children often interpret phubbing as rejection. “He or she may think they are insignificant,” Alvord explained.

“When children begin to think this way, they often isolate themselves. They will also overcompensate negatively or positively to get any type of attention.”

For young children, those feelings can spiral into deeper emotional issues. Research shows that kids who feel ignored are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety or depressionContinue reading…