Khaberni - The smartphone is no longer merely a communication tool, but has become a third party in the relationship between parents and their children. A new phenomenon known as "technoference" has started to concern researchers after recent studies linked parents' engagement with their devices to a decline in interaction with their children.
The term, which combines "technology" and "interference," originated in the United States, based on research by family psychology experts such as Brandon McDaniel and pediatrician Jenny Radesky, before spreading to Europe, where French researchers confirmed its findings.
According to developmental psychology professor Maya Gratier from the University of Paris Nanterre, warnings began after the COVID pandemic, when specialists noticed an increase in the number of parents "glued to their phones" to the extent that they "miss out" on moments of interaction with their children.
The numbers reflect the scale of the problem, as parents spend an average of 5.12 hours per day on their phones, while 27% of their time with their children is spent distracted by devices. Additionally, 68% of parents in the United States admit that their phones distract them during interactions with their children.
This distraction does not come without a cost. Technoference weakens parents' ability to pick up on their children's emotional cues, which can negatively affect their psychological development. In later stages, it is associated with increased family stress and decreased emotional support.
Researchers warn that repeatedly ignoring children's needs can pave the way for issues such as depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and attention deficit.
Educational experts indicate that technology itself is not to blame, but excessive use within the home can deprive a child of a basic right, which is genuine presence from their parents.
