International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: The advent of digital technology has revolutionised the way people communicate, interact, and navigate their daily lives. However, excessive use of digital devices has led to the emergence of various social and behavioural problems. One such phenomenon is "phubbing," a term coined to describe the act of snubbing or ignoring someone in a social setting in favour of a mobile phone. Phubbing has become a ubiquitous issue in many Nigerian families, including those in Abakaliki Urban of Ebonyi State. In recent years, digital detox has gained popularity as a potential solution to mitigate the negative effects of excessive digital device use. Digital detox refers to the practice of abstaining from digital devices, such as smartphones, computers, and televisions, for a period of time. By disconnecting from digital technology, individuals can rediscover the joys of human connection, improve their mental and physical well-being, and cultivate healthier relationships with their loved ones. Despite the growing interest in digital detox, there is a paucity of research on its effectiveness in reducing phubbing in Nigerian families.
Objective: This study investigated how digital detox could serve as a means of reducing phubbing among select families in Abakaliki urban of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Method: The descriptive survey research design was adopted and purposive sampling technique was used to select 80 families. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Analyses were done using descriptive statistics and summarized using frequency tables.
Result: Findings show that majority of the respondents said that phubbing has led to increased conflict and strains in their marriages, significant number said it has caused weakened/problematic communication, few of the respondents said decreased marital satisfaction, minority said phubbing has led to separation of partners. The findings further show that the negative impact of excessive use of digital gadgets has really led to a lot of marital/family issues and in some cases led to separation and maybe divorce as the case may be and that digital detox is a sure way to control this relationship threatening vice called phubbing.
Conclusion: This research concludes that phubbing has extreme negative effect on people especially in family life, and that the use of digital detox is still at the moderate level in Ebonyi State compared how it is used in Western world.
Unique Contribution: This study offers localized insights into how smartphone-induced behaviours disrupt marital and familial bonds and how digital detox can mitigate these issues in a culturally distinct urban African setting. By addressing this research gap, the study contributes to mass communication and family studies literature, providing a foundation for future research on technology’s social impacts.
Key Recommendation: It was recommended that digital detox should be embraced by couples/families as this could guide against phubbing as to have increased communication between partners, increased attention and more attraction to each other among other good results.