Digital Media in Early Childhood: Examining TikTok Content in the USA, Germany and Türkiye

The purpose of this study is to analyze the content that children from different parts of the world may encounter on the TikTok platform. Specifically, the research examines the suitability of this content for children in terms of semantic and contextual appropriateness, its alignment with the 12 universal values outlined in UNESCO's Living Values Education Program, and the presence of various forms of violence. The study analyzed a total of 120 TikTok videos, with 40 selected from Ankara, Türkiye; 40 from Washington, D.C., USA; and 40 from Berlin, Germany. The research employed content analysis, a qualitative research method, utilizing thematic analysis as a sub-method. Data were collected using a checklist developed by the researchers. The findings indicate that the TikTok content accessible to preschool children in Türkiye, the United States, and Germany is shaped by cultural and regional factors, resulting in notable differences across countries. Analyzing aspects such as audiovisual appropriateness, language use, representation of universal values, and instances of violence, the study found that Türkiye had the highest proportion of inappropriate content.