Technoference in parenting and impacts on parent-child relationships and child development

Abstract

"Technoference" is a term that describes how parent media use (e.g., phone use) can interfere with parent-child relationships and interactions. Research has shown technoference effects on parents and children ranging in age from infancy to adolescence, such as decreased parent responsiveness and adverse child behavioral outcomes. However, potential benefits of parent media use have also been identified, such as media use to cope with stress, stay connected, increase breastfeeding perseverance, and seek parenting information. Technoference has only been researched for about a decade, and there are large research gaps. We propose a research agenda to parse out long-term or cumulative effects of technoference on parenting and child outcomes, while also accounting for the role of context and content of device use on the potential effects of technoference. We propose that guidance for parents should not guilt or stigmatize them but rather consider reasons for media use and offer tailored suggestions for managing use. However, the proliferation of persuasive design features in apps and media makes self-control and change of device behavior difficult. We also propose that the burden for managing media usage should not solely lie with parents; policymakers and the tech industry should play a pivotal role.