Intra-family communication in the internet age: A study on influencers and digital polarization

This thesis aims to examine the dynamics of intra-family communication in the internet age and the role played by influencers in this process. The research focuses on evaluating the polarization observed between influencers, who are proficient in digital technologies, and parents and children who lack sufficient knowledge in this area. The main goal of the study is to thoroughly analyze the polarizations that technology may create in intra-family communication and to reveal the role of leading social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The research was limited to influencers with a high level of internet awareness; individuals with little experience in technology were excluded. This is considered one of the study's limitations. In the thesis, questions such as "what are proper internet usage habits?" and "what is the impact of good internet usage habits on family relationships?" are addressed, discussing how the consumption of online content deepens polarization within the family. The literature review reveals a lack of detailed information regarding the effects of the internet and social media on families and children, emphasizing this gap as one of the focal points of the research. In the study, influencers' opinions were gathered through semi-structured interviews; a total of 6 hours and 32 minutes of video recordings were meticulously transcribed and analyzed, with the findings supported by literature. Furthermore, the use of influencers' real names has significantly enhanced the transparency and reliability of the study.