One Photo, Four Questions: A PAPA Perspective on Sharenting

Abstract

This study aims to examine parents’ views on sharenting. The research was conducted within the framework of a qualitative research approach using a case study design. Seventeen parents with middle socio-economic status, selected through purposive sampling, were included in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interview questions developed based on Mason’s PAPA framework of computer ethics. The data, analyzed through descriptive analysis, revealed that parents tried to respect privacy boundaries during the sharenting process, attached importance to accuracy and currency, considered the intellectual property of children’s content primarily as belonging to the children, and largely limited access to such posts to family circles. Compared to international literature, which often highlights parents’ inadequacies in these areas, the findings suggest a relatively more conscious attitude in the Turkish context. In the conclusion, it is discussed that the phenomenon of sharenting is shaped not only by individual parental preferences but also by cultural values and social norms.