Snub the Phub!: How Technology Interferes with Parenting and Family Life

By Anna Gilliam, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor

Technology is a constant presence in our lives, and it’s no surprise that screen time among teens is on the rise. In 2022, 95% of teens reported using social media, and about one-third said they use it almost constantly (Education, 2023). While teens often get the spotlight when it comes to screen time, adults are just as plugged in – sometimes more so.

The average person spends 4 hours and 36 minutes on their phone every day. Over the course of a year, that adds up to more than 70 full days spent looking at a screen (Duarte, 2025).

Imagine being a kid again, sitting in your classroom on the last week of school, buzzing with anticipation for the 90 days of summer break. But instead of bike rides, swimming pools, and late nights with friends, you spend 70 days looking at your phone. For many of us, that’s how much time quietly slips by each year on our screens.

We often talk about kids and technology, but less often do we examine how parental screen time shapes family life. In recent years, researchers have identified several ways that technology is affecting parenting—and they’ve even coined new terms to describe it:

Understanding the Terms

• Parental Phubbing: When a parent is distracted by their phone and unintentionally ignores their child (phone + snubbing = “phubbing”).
• Technoference: Technology-related interruptions that disrupt parent-child interactions—whether from phones, TV, tablets, or other devices.
• Parental Screen Distraction: When screen use keeps parents from engaging fully in everyday parenting tasks.
• Parental Phone Use While Parenting: Exactly what it sounds like—scrolling, texting, or checking emails while supervising or interacting with children.
• Problematic Social Media Use: Difficulty regulating social media habits—sometimes with behaviors resembling addiction.

(Frackowiak et al., 2024)

Why It Matters

Recent studies show that strong, positive parent-child relationships are linked to lower levels of problematic social media use among kids. On the flip side, a more distracted or strained parenting style is often associated with increased screen dependency at home (Vossen, Visser et al., 2024).

In other words—kids notice, and they often follow the example we set.

It Starts With You

Technology isn’t the enemy—but balance is key. If you're wondering where to start, try a few of these practical tips to reduce tech-related stress and strengthen your family connections:

• Set time limits on the apps you use the most (like social media or games).
• Create tech-free zones or times in your home—such as no phones at the dinner table or in bedrooms.
• Find off-screen ways to unwind, like reading, hobbies, exercising, or playing with a pet.
• Practice being present. Focus on the moment, especially during daily routines and family time.

Technology isn’t going away—but with a few small shifts, we can make sure it doesn’t get in the way of what matters most; the connection you build with the ones you love.

References

Dewar, G. (2024a, March 25). What is parental phubbing, and how does it harm families?. PARENTING SCIENCE. https://parentingscience.com/what-is-phubbing-and-how-does-it-harm-us/

Duarte, F. (2025, April 24). Time spent using smartphones (2025 statistics). Exploding Topics. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/smartphone-usage-stats

Education. socialmedia.utah.gov. (2023, May 23). https://socialmedia.utah.gov/education/

Frackowiak, M., Ochs, C., Wolfers, L. and Vanden Abeele, M. (2024), Commentary: Technoference or parental phubbing? A call for greater conceptual and operational clarity of parental smartphone use around children. J Child Psychol Psychiatr, 65: 1108-1114. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13917

Vossen, H.G.M., van den Eijnden, R.J.J.M., Visser, I. et al. Parenting and Problematic Social Media Use: A Systematic Review. Curr Addict Rep 11, 511–527 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-024-00559-x