Connectivity Without Proximity: Technoconferencing and the Transformation of Family Communication in the Gadget Era

Muhammad Dalim (Politeknik Negeri Medan, Medan)
Rubino (Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara, Medan)
Lely Diana Fitri (Uniiversitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan)

Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humanities
Vol. 4 No. 03 (2026): Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humani

Objective: To examine how gadget use creates technoference and reshapes family communication, emphasizing the quality of attention and presence rather than screen time. Theoretical framework: Combines family communication, family systems, technology domestication, parental mediation, and attention economy theories to explain technoference and phubbing. Literature review: Prior studies link gadget use to lower responsiveness and relationship quality, but also acknowledge its benefits for coordination and support. Most research still relies on screen-time measures and cross-sectional designs. Methods: This study employed qualitative methods through a structured literature review and thematic synthesis. Searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar using a combination of the terms technoference, parental phubbing, family communication, smartphone, parent–child interaction, and digital parenting. Publications were analyzed through coding of meaning units, theme clustering, cross-design comparison, and conceptual interpretation. Results: The synthesis yielded five main themes: fragmentation of attention and loss of engagement cues; decreased responsiveness and emotional validation; conflict circulation and modeling of digital behavior; the ambivalence of gadgets as both connectors and barriers; and boundary negotiation as a means of managing family communication. The findings suggest that gadget consequences are not inherent to the device or determined solely by duration. Their impact depends on the relational value of a moment, the degree of distraction, the purpose of the activity, the clarity of the rules, and the interpretations of family members. Implications: This study shifts the focus from screen time to communication quality, emphasizing participatory family rules, gadget-free routines, parental role modeling, and digital literacy. Novelty: The KABAT model (Context, Attention, Boundaries, Activities, and Interpretations) explains how gadgets shape family communication by focusing on communication episodes rather than devices, providing a framework for future longitudinal and cross-cultural research.