Sharenting in China
Perspectives from mothers and adolescents
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12420862 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lin Zhu (0000-0001-5298-7431), Zhu Lin (0000-0003-3612-6177), Yan Wang (0009-0009-9633-0023), Yanhong Chen (0000-0003-2175-3936) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 105-125 |
| Publication date | 2024-05-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Internet Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1066-2243 • E-ISSN: 2054-5657 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/intr-05-2023-0339 |
| OpenAlex | W4396701970 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 37 |
Purpose Mothers sharing images and information on social media about their children is a contemporary cultural norm. While the practice has been heavily discussed in popular media, there is a lack of empirical research examining the phenomenon from the perspectives of parents and adolescent children in China. The current study aims to find out whether or not mothers and their children engage in discussions about sharenting and how adolescents negotiate their privacy concerns with their mothers. Design/methodology/approach The current study examined how parents and their children make sense of sharenting via semi-structured interviews with 16 Chinese mothers. In addition, the study enlisted 21 adolescents to examine their perspectives on sharenting. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings Results showed that although documentation is articulated as the primary sharenting motivation, identity management is a major drive behind sharenting. The dynamics between mothers and their children, as well as between adolescents and their parents, are also explored regarding the issues of consent, privacy and identity. Research limitations/implications This study has theoretical implications for the communication privacy management (CPM) theory, as it underscores the dynamic nature of privacy management, shaped by cultural norms, family dynamics and evolving communication technologies. It also adds value for campaign practitioners to provide education programs on the serious consequences of sharenting. Originality/value This research serves as a starting point to further explore a child’s entrance to adulthood as our culture’s first true digital natives who will bear extensive online and offline identities
China · Developmental psychology · Political science · Child Development and Digital Technology · Psychology
Qualitative Research
From the Cradle to the Web
The Limits of Sharenting
Sharenting as a double-edged sword
Cultural Variation in the Self-Concept
Social Networking Addiction
The privacy paradox – Investigating discrepancies between expressed privacy concerns and actual online behavior – A systematic literature review
Families and Social Media Use
New Mothers and Media Use
The dark sides of sharenting
Sharenting,” parent blogging, and the boundaries of the digital self
Communication Boundary Management
Parents’ Shares on Social Networking Sites About their Children
Sharenting, parental mediation and privacy among Spanish children
Sharenting
Sharenting, is it a good or a bad thing? Understanding how adolescents think and feel about sharenting on social network sites
The influence of individualism-collectivism and self-monitoring on conflict styles
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Adolescent Development
Take it down
What Kind of Mother Am I? Impression Management and the Social Construction of Motherhood
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |