Article

YouTubers as a Popular Culture Role Model: A Research Study on Private School Students

ABSTRACT

Popular culture is defined as a culture that is favored and preferred by the large social segments. As a result of the emerging communication technologies, the popularity of the popular culture and the elements of this culture have been increased thanks to the increasing new media environments. Today, social media platforms, which are an area of new media, in particular allow popular cultures to be adopted and accepted by large social segments. In this context, the main theme of this study is popular culture and social media relations. And the focus of the study is about YouTube and YouTubers. The aim of the study is also to reveal how YouTube and YouTubers have influence on kids in the age of primary school. In the study, semi-structured in-depth interview method, which is a qualitative research method, was used. And it was interviewed by 24 kids in a private primary school in Konya. As a result of the research, it was reached that the kids use intensively YouTube to enjoy and learn. Furthermore, it was determined that the kids take YouTubers as a role model and want to be a YouTuber when they grow up. The kids explained their desire to become a YouTuber to be known, valued and loved by everyone.

Keywords

Popular culture social media YouTube YouTubers kids