Social Media Phenomenon Parents: Personal and Social Implications of Sharing Their Children

Authors : Faruk Dursun, Betül Ak

Pages : 86-105

Doi:10.55609/yenimedya.1617881

View : 54 | Download : 21

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Sheranting refers to parents sharing information about their children on social media platforms, such as pictures, videos and text. Although parents do this with good intentions, such as enabling distant acquaintances and relatives to witness and learn about their children\\\'s development, it is problematic for both the child and the parent. Sometimes this action is done without considering the privacy of the children, but it can also be done with different subconscious feelings such as affirming the parent\\\'s own parenthood and sharing “happy” moments. In this study, the motivations of parents\\\' posts about their children and family life on social media, the effects of feedback, and social comparison behaviors were examined. In addition, their attitudes towards laws, regulations and conventions enacted to protect children were also examined. The research group of the study consisted of parents with children at one or more of the pre-school, primary, secondary and high school levels. 403 parents participated in the study. Data were collected according to convenience sampling method. The data collection form was delivered to the participants online. There were no missing data in the collected data. According to the findings of the study, parents find it fun to share posts on social media, especially sharing content about special days. While positive feedback motivates them, negative feedback causes anxiety and fear. Parents also compare themselves with other mother-child content, which creates a sense of inadequacy. It was determined that parents do not have sufficient knowledge about children\\\'s rights. In the light of the answers given, 23.3% of the parents knew the content of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 16.4% knew the content of the European Convention on the Exercise of the Rights of the Child, 28.5% knew the content of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child and 31.5% knew the content of the Child Protection Law. The other participants have either never heard of these conventions, declarations and laws or have heard of them but do not know their content. When we look at the reasons why parents do not post about their children on social media, contrary to what is expected or predicted, it is seen that the rate of parents who do not post to protect the privacy of children, in other words, not to open the door to child abusers, remains at 10.9%. On the other hand, the rate of parents who do not post because they think that their children will be disturbed by the post is 5.2%. As the presenter of the study, it is recommended that social media policies and legal regulations should raise awareness of parents in the context of sharing motivations, the effects of negative feedback, social comparison behaviors and knowledge of children\\\'s rights through social media usage guides.
Keywords : Paylaşım, Mahremiyet, Sosyal Medya, Dijital Ebeveyn, Çocuk Hakları

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