Phone scrolling is unattractive | PerthNow

Browsing endlessly on your phone can do more harm than just draining your battery; It can also make you much less attractive to others.

A study by psychologists at Korea University in Seoul found that so-called “phubbing” (belittling someone for the sake of your phone) clearly leaves a bad impression. People who stayed glued to their screens were rated as colder, less intelligent, and overall less likeable than those who stayed there.

To test the effect, researchers showed volunteers photos of couples sitting together in a cafe. In some photos, one partner was focused on his phone; in others they were both engaged to each other. The difference was very clear. Participants consistently rated phone sliders as significantly less warm, less competent, and less attractive as social companions.

Research author Dr. Taeyeon Kim said: “Our results showed that phubbing behavior harms perceptions of warmth and competence. This makes the person doing the phubbing seem like a less attractive social partner, thus reducing sympathy. This may make them less desirable social relationship partners.”

There were a few exceptions. Participants were more forgiving in situations where phone use seemed necessary, such as checking a message for work or responding to something urgent. But the casual, habitual swipe was seen as rude and condescending.

The findings come as phone use continues to rise. Adults in the UK now spend an average of three hours a day on their smartphones, largely on social platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. This constant digital capture may be quietly undermining real-world relationships.