Together, but apart: Nepal’s growing phubbing culture

Scenes of people absorbed in their phones, oblivious to their surroundings, have become a common sight in Nepal's public spaces. This growing trend, known as "phubbing", a portmanteau of "phone" and "snubbing", describes the act of ignoring physically present individuals in favor of a smartphone.

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This place used to be filled with murmurs and laughter, and now, on most days, all one hears is the loud noise of Reels or TikTok.

Arjun Kandel, who co-owns Aarya Khaja Ghar in Tinkune, has observed a significant shift in customer behavior over his five years of operation. He notes that patrons no longer linger to socialize as they once did. Instead, customers often rush in and out, and even when seated together, their attention is frequently divided by their devices. "This place used to be filled with murmurs and laughter, and now, on most days, all one hears is the loud noise of Reels or TikTok," Kandel remarked. He believes social media has altered the essence of human connection, making presence with others less profound.

The impact of this shift extends beyond mere distraction or etiquette concerns. It is subtly altering the fabric of daily interactions, influencing how people connect, listen, and engage with each other. In some instances, this divided attention has led to dangerous situations. An Instagram user recently shared a video of a ride-hailing driver engrossed in watching short-form videos while operating the vehicle, resulting in multiple near-misses and ignored warnings. The user reported that the driving became increasingly reckless as the ride progressed, highlighting the potential safety risks associated with phubbing.

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Social media has made communication easier, but it has also quietly changed what it means to be present with someone; it has affected human connection.

This phenomenon is not confined to specific environments but is becoming a pervasive aspect of modern life, affecting the quality of human connection and, in some cases, posing significant safety risks.

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About 25 minutes of watching Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts while driving. Multiple near misses. Repeated warnings ignored. By the end of the ride, the driving became even more reckless.