Thanksgiving has come and gone, and if you happened to notice family and friends spending more time on their digital devices than connecting face-to-face, you're probably not alone. According to researchers, this growing phenomenon is called "technoference" – which describes interruptions and disconnections in relationships caused by the excessive use of digital devices. K-State Extension family life and resource management agent for Sedgwick County, Liz Brunscheen-Cartegena, says these small interruptions, repeated day after day, can slowly weaken the bonds that make family time special. By prioritizing presence over pixels, she says we give our families something far more lasting than any digital post; we give them belonging, attention and love.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.