Kidfluencing as Child Abuse in the Digital Age: A Study on Instagram

Abstract

The media tools created by the digital age have turned almost every individual into their own subject. Social media platforms have become a tool that allows individuals to share every person or event in their lives. ‘Kidfluencing,’ which refers to parents earning money on social media platforms through their children's cuteness, mischief, or talents, is a highly controversial area in terms of children's rights. Social media posts made without the consent of children can lead to numerous violations of children's rights in terms of privacy and child labour. In this context, the study examines five kidfluencer accounts (Instagram) with high follower and engagement counts in Türkiye, selected using random sampling, in a comparative analysis within the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This research, which examines Instagram posts using quantitative and qualitative content analysis methods, aims to emphasise child rights violations. The findings of the research reveal that the posts made by parents about their children are highly problematic in terms of children's rights. It was found that violations of privacy and freedom of expression, as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, were more common in the posts, and that child labour and abuse were also prevalent. At this point, it is clear that there is a need for parental education, stricter legal frameworks, and the application of media ethics principles.

Keywords

• Instagram
• Children’s rights
• Privacy
• Kidfluencing

Dijital Çağda Çocuk İstismarı Olarak Kidfluencıng: Instagram Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Dijital çağın getirdiği medya araçları hemen her bireyi öznesi haline getirmektedir. Sosyal medya mecraları bireylerin yaşamlarındaki her kişi ya da olguyu paylaşabildiği araca dönüşmektedir. Ebeveynlerin çocuklarının sevimliliği, yaramazlıkları veya yetenekleri üzerinden maddi kazanç elde etmeleri olarak adlandırılan “kidfluencing” çocuk hakları açısından oldukça tartışılan bir alandır. Yapılan sosyal medya paylaşımları çocukların rızası gözetilmeden, mahremiyet ve çocuk işçiliği çerçevesinde birçok çocuk hakkı ihlalinin yaşanmasına sebep olabilmektedir. Bu doğrultuda çalışma rastgele örneklem yöntemiyle belirlenen Türkiye’de takipçi ve etkileşim sayısı yüksek 5 kidfluencer sayfasını (Instagram) BM Çocuk Hakları Sözleşmesi çerçevesinde karşılaştırmalı olarak incelemektedir. Instagram gönderilerini nicel ve nitel içerik analizi yöntemi ile ele alan bu araştırma, çocuk hakkı ihlallerine vurgu yapmayı amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada elde edilen bulgularda ebeveynlerin çocuklarını konu edinen paylaşımlarının çocuk hakları açısından oldukça sorunlu yapısı açığa çıkmaktadır. Paylaşımlarda BM Çocuk Hakları Sözleşmesi’nde ifade edilen mahremiyet ve ifade özgürlüğü ihlallerinin daha sık öne çıktığı saptanmakta, çocuk işçiliği ve istismarının da yakın bir oranda seyrettiği gözlenmektedir. Bu noktada ebeveynlerin eğitimi, daha sert yasal çerçeveler ve medya etik ilkelerinin uygulanmasına ihtiyaç duyulduğu ortaya çıkmaktadır.

Keywords

• Instagram
• Çocuk hakları
• Mahremiyet
• Kidfluencing

Supporting Institution

Bulunmamaktadır.

Ethical Statement

Yazarlar, çalışmanın Etik Kurul Onayı gerektirmediğini beyan eder.

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