Journals / Erzincan Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2026

Performance Over Pedagogy: The Psychosocial Price of Child Influencing

Pedagoji Yerine Performans: Çocuk İnfluencerlığın Psikososyal Bedeli

Mehmet Fatih Döğer(Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı)0000-0001-5940-450X
Pages
1–11
Publication Date
2026-03-07
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Centrally, this research underlines the need for a legal framework that enshrines a child's right to an educative environment where their cognitive and psychological development is prioritized over commercial objectives.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study investigates the profound implications of the child influencer phenomenon for educational systems and student development.
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Key Findings & Data:According to stakeholder perceptions, child influencers are viewed as experiencing significant role conflict between their curated online personas and real-life identities, leading to identity fragmentation, emotional volatility, and a dependency on external validation.
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Conclusion & Impact:Centrally, this research underlines the need for a legal framework that enshrines a child's right to an educative environment where their cognitive and psychological development is prioritized over commercial objectives.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Çocuk influencer · çocuk işçiliği · dijital çocukluk

Abstract

This study investigates the profound implications of the child influencer phenomenon for educational systems and student development. Framed by Goffman's dramaturgical theory and Postman's ‘disappearance of childhood’ thesis, this research explores how the commodification of children online can undermine core educational values and developmental processes. It addresses the gap in the academic literature by examining the phenomenon of child influencers to explore issues of digital child labor and exploitation and to propose concrete interventions for the profound psychosocial harm they cause. Conducting scenario-based interviews with twenty-two stakeholders, parents, teachers, and experts, the research aimed to explore the commodification of childhood, effects on self-perception, social relationships, and critical threats to the schooling process and educational outcomes. According to stakeholder perceptions, child influencers are viewed as experiencing significant role conflict between their curated online personas and real-life identities, leading to identity fragmentation, emotional volatility, and a dependency on external validation. Furthermore, their intense involvement in content production disrupts academic performance, erodes genuine peer relationships, and fosters social isolation and anxiety. Centrally, this research underlines the need for a legal framework that enshrines a child's right to an educative environment where their cognitive and psychological development is prioritized over commercial objectives.

Özet

Bu çalışma, çocuk influencer fenomeninin eğitim sistemleri ve öğrenci gelişimi üzerindeki derin etkilerini araştırmaktadır. Goffman'ın dramaturji teorisi ve Postman'ın 'çocukluğun yok oluşu' tezi çerçevesinde şekillenen bu araştırma, çocukların çevrimiçi ortamda metalaştırılmasının temel eğitim değerlerini ve gelişim süreçlerini nasıl baltalayabileceğini inceler. Çalışma, dijital çocuk işçiliği ve sömürüsü sorunlarını keşfetmek ve bunların neden olduğu derin psikososyal zarara yönelik somut müdahaleler önermek amacıyla çocuk influencer olgusunu inceleyerek akademik literatürdeki bir boşluğu ele almaktadır. Yirmi iki paydaş, ebeveyn, öğretmen ve uzmanla senaryo temelli görüşmeler yapılarak, araştırma; çocukluğun metalaştırılmasını, benlik algısı ve sosyal ilişkiler üzerindeki etkilerini, ayrıca okul süreci ve eğitimsel sonuçlara yönelik kritik tehditleri ortaya çıkarmayı amaçlamıştır. Paydaş algılarına göre, çocuk influencerlar kurgulanmış çevrimiçi kişilikleri ile gerçek yaşam kimlikleri arasında önemli bir rol çatışması yaşamakta; bu durum kimlik parçalanması, duygusal dalgalanmalar ve dış onaya bağımlılığa yol açmaktadır. Ayrıca, içerik üretimindeki yoğun katılımları akademik performansı aksatmakta, samimi akran ilişkilerini zayıflatmakta, sosyal izolasyon ve kaygıyı beslemektedir. Bu araştırma, ticari hedeflerden ziyade çocuğun bilişsel ve psikolojik gelişiminin önceliklendirildiği bir eğitim ortamına sahip olma hakkını güvence altına alacak yasal bir çerçeveye duyulan ihtiyacın altını çizmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Döğer, M. F. (2026). Performance Over Pedagogy: The Psychosocial Price of Child Influencing. Erzincan Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2026, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.17556/erziefd.1825769

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