Technoference
What is Technoference?
Technoference is a term coined by Dr. Brandon McDaniel, a colleague of Dr. Coyne, that combined the terms technology and interference to describe the interruptions of when technology interferes with the face-to-face time of individuals.
References
“Parent Media Use, Technoference, and Its Effects on Children | Brandon McDaniel, PhD.” Children and Screens, https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/parent-media-use-technoference-and-its-effects-on-children-brandon-mcdaniel-phd/.
What is Phubbing?
Phubbing is a form of technoference that is specifically related to phone use rather than technology as a whole.
References
“Parent Media Use, Technoference, and Its Effects on Children | Brandon McDaniel, PhD.” Children and Screens, https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/parent-media-use-technoference-and-its-effects-on-children-brandon-mcdaniel-phd/.
Does Screentime for Parents Really Matter?
The answer is, yes! Not only do parents model behavior for children, but they create healthy phone habits for themselves and their families. Parent technoference impacts connection, behavior, and children’s habits.
When parents spend more time on their phones—especially on social media—it can interrupt family interactions. Parents who use media heavily tend to talk less and engage less with their children, and this pattern can damage relationships and influence kids’ own media habits over time
Why Technoference Matters
Families where parents frequently experience technoference are more likely to see children develop problematic media use later on. In contrast, parents who keep their own screen time low are better at setting healthy limits and fostering positive connections.
Being mindful of your own media habits isn’t just good for you—it helps create a more connected, balanced environment for your child. Small changes, like putting your phone away during playtime, dinner, and other one-on-one time can make a big difference.
References
Holmgren, H. G., Booth, M. A., Ashby, S., Coyne, S. M., Clifford, B. N., & Davis, E. (2024). Patterns of Parent Media Use: The influence of parent media use profiles on parental mediation, technoference, and problematic media use. Computers in human behavior, 161, 108410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108410
What are the Effects of Technoference by Age?
Infancy (0–2 years)
Using your phone while feeding your baby can interfere with bonding. Researchers have found that parents who use mobile devices during these moments tend to have lower attachment quality and more strained interactions. These tech interruptions can make it harder to respond to your baby’s cues. And it’s not rare: parents use smartphones during about 27% of time with infants, and sometimes as much as
75%. Staying present during feeding helps build connection and supports your baby’s development.
Toddlers (≈2 years)
Research shows that when technology interrupts parent-child time—especially during play or meals—it can have lasting effects. Studies find that these disruptions are linked to more behavioral challenges in young children, including higher levels of anxiety, sadness, tantrums, and aggression. Technoference also reduces the quality of interactions, limiting chances for language growth and emotional regulation.
Dr. Coyne’s research shows that parental phone use can also disrupt a child’s emotional well-being. When parents are distracted by their devices, toddlers often display less positive emotion and experience physical signs of stress, such as increased heart rate. Over time, frequent “technoference” — interruptions caused by technology — is linked to greater stress responses in children, making it harder for them to regulate emotions effectively. Staying present during these everyday moments helps support healthy development and stronger family connections.
Early Childhood (2–5 years)
When technology interrupts parent-child time, especially during play or meals, it can have lasting effects. These disruptions are linked to more behavioral challenges in young children, including higher levels of anxiety, sadness, tantrums, and aggression. Technoference also reduces the quality of interactions, limiting chances for language growth and emotional regulation. Staying present during these everyday moments helps support healthy development and stronger family connections.
Middle Childhood (6–12 years)
Even though research is still emerging, experts like Dr. Sarah Coyne highlight that when parents are distracted by devices during shared activities such as homework or family meals, it can weaken relationship quality and set an example of poor media habits. Over time, this pattern may affect how children learn to manage their own screen use and self-regulation. Making small changes, like putting phones aside during these moments, can help strengthen bonds and support healthy habits for the whole family.
Adolescence (10–20 years)
When technology interrupts family time, it can take a toll on adolescents’ well-being. Teens who notice frequent parental technoference report higher levels of anxiety, depression, and even cyberbullying, along with lower prosocial behavior and community involvement. Excessive parental social media use—seven or more hours a day on social media—makes things worse: teens in these homes are four times more likely to experience depression. Nearly half of teens say technoference happens at home, and it’s strongly tied to poorer mental health. Staying present during family time can help protect teens’ emotional health and strengthen connections. Their own device use during family interactions is linked to similar negative outcomes.
References
Coyne, Sarah M., Cara Swit, et al. “Parental Technoference—Small Effects, Big Questions.” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 179, no. 7, July 2025, p. 699. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.0679.
McDaniel, Brandon T., et al. “Technoference in Parenting and Impacts on Parent–Child Relationships and Child Development.” Handbook of Children and Screens, edited by Dimitri A. Christakis and Lauren Hale, Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025, pp. 411–17. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69362-5_56.
Porter, Chris, et al. “Toddlers’ Physiological Response to Parent’s Mobile Device Distraction and Technoference.” Developmental Psychobiology, vol. 66, no. 2, Jan. 2024, https://researchrepository.parkviewhealth.org/informatics/189.
“Publications.” SarahMCoyne, https://sarahmcoyne.byu.edu/publications.
Stahle, Tyler S. “No Technoference, Please!” Y Magazine, https://magazine.byu.edu/article/no-technoference-please/.
Stockdale, Laura, et al. “Parent and Child Technoference and Socioemotional Behavioral Outcomes: A Nationally Representative Study of 10- to 20-Year-Old Adolescents.” Faculty Publications, June 2018 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.06.034.
Does Technoference Affect Romantic Relationships?
Interruptions caused by technology can have a real impact on couples. In a recent study, 70% of participants said technology interfered with their relationship at least sometimes, and 62% reported it disrupted their leisure time together daily. It didn’t stop there: 35% said technology interfered with conversations, and 33% noticed it even during mealtimes. These small interruptions add up, creating friction in moments meant for connection.
Why It Matters in Relationships?
Couples who reported more technoference also experienced more conflict over tech use, lower relationship satisfaction, and even higher levels of depressive symptoms and reduced life satisfaction. Simply put, when screens intrude on quality time, relationships suffer. Being intentional about unplugging during meals or conversations can help restore closeness and reduce tension.
References
McDaniel, Brandon T., and Sarah M. Coyne. “‘Technoference’: The Interference of Technology in Couple Relationships and Implications for Women’s Personal and Relational Well-Being.” Psychology of Popular Media Culture, vol. 5, no. 1, Jan. 2016, pp. 85–98. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000065.
What Can I Do to Help with Technoference?
1. Model healthy media use
Parents set the tone for the media climate in the home. “It’s easy to be so focused on a child’s media use that sometimes we forget to turn the mirror to ourselves,” says Sarah Coyne. Being mindful of how and when you use social media while with your children can help create healthy media environments at home.
2. Build relationships and limit technoference
Children value strong connections with parents, and your undivided attention is important. Dr. Coyne notes the most important thing a parent can do is to build a strong relationship with a child: “It’s less about social-media use and more about parenting in general. Limiting technoference goes a long way in strengthening your relationships.”
3. Help children think critically about their media use
The study found that parents talking to teens about media and how to evaluate media habits helped protect teens’ mental health. Dr. Coyne says parents can be proactive in having natural conversations about media. “Parents might ask, ‘What do you like about
this social-media platform?’ or ‘How do you feel about social media?’ and then listen to what the child says.” Such questions will lead to a discussion about media literacy while reinforcing love for the child.
4. Create balanced guidelines
The study suggests that strict rules around media use tend to backfire. The highest rates of depression among teens were reported by those whose parents had imposed the highest levels of rules and restrictions. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any media restrictions for your children, says Dr. Coyne, but it does suggest that parents and children should try to understand each other and implement guidelines that are appropriate for each child and each situation.