Pebbling

Pebbling refers to the behavior of sending partner, friends, and family memes, small gifts, or performing small deeds to let them know you're thinking of them to build social connection. As a Nonverbal communication, pebbling gestures are used by neurodivergent people who struggle with traditional forms of affection. Pebbling is an accessible, efficient, and inclusive low-risk form of communication that can provide a validating and comforting emotional impact. Pebbling promotes human bonding through homophily.

Examples of physical pebbling including sending postcards, handwritten notes, picking flowers, or purchasing trinkets. Digital pebbling includes sending memes, videos, tweets, and tikToks. A stoppage in pebbling could be interpreted as ghosting.

Pebbling originates from arctic Adélie penguin and Gentoo penguins who present smooth pebbles used for nest-building to their partner as part of their courtship display.