“Am I not interesting enough?”: Exploring the experience of and communication about technoference within the parent–child relationship in Belgium

Today’s family life is increasingly shaped by mobile device use, leading to rising instances of technoference (i.e. technology-related disruptions in interpersonal interactions). Based on the expectancy violations communication theoretical framework, this study explores how technoference is experienced and communicated within parent-child relationships. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parent-child dyads (children aged 8-14), with mothers and fathers equally represented, in March 2024. Interview transcripts were analyzed according to the reflexive thematic analysis while taking the dyadic structure of our data into account. The results suggest that technoference dynamics within the parent-child relationship are shaped by the interplay between parent- and child-held expectations of attention, responsiveness and availability, the subsequent strategies of restoring or re-evaluating these expectations, and the specific relational and situational factors. By integrating both parent and child viewpoints, the study shows that perceptions of what constitutes interference vary and emphasizes the need for open communication and clear boundaries around mobile device use.