Girl YouTubers: Interaction, creation, and emotions during COVID-19 confinement

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS17120232171

Keywords:

kids, videoblog, YouTube, influencers, content creators, emotions, COVID-19

Abstract

In Spain, the COVID-19 pandemic forced absolute confinement from March 15 to July 21, 2020. On the other side of the screen, YouTubers girls and boys, creators of specific content for their peers, took the opportunity to increase their productions. This research examines 73 creations made during the confinement period by six Spanish YouTubers girls categorized as influencers by the number of reproductions and followers of their channels through content analysis to evaluate the interactions, content generated and subjective aspects of projection of the emotional state of these minors. The results show an increase in the number of interactors, positioning the female sector as the most prevalent gender. The contents have been related to the COVID-19 theme, while, in the emotional aspect, the influencers were not affected by the great sadness that hit Spain with the death of thousands of people.

Author Biographies

Javier Gil-Quintana, National Distance Education University

Javier Gil Quintana is PhD in Education and Communication (UNED). Bachelor in Teaching (UVA); Master's degree in "Digital Technologies and the Society of the Knowledge" and Master's degree in "Communication and Education on the Net" (UNED); expert in media analysis, digital production and free software (UNED). Director and teacher in public schools, developing educational innovation projects and receiving recognition for those projects. Teacher at the UNED's Faculty of Education of Madrid (Spain). At the research level, participation in international projects with universities such as Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, Universidad de Zaragoza, Universidad Abierta y A Distancia y de la Sabana in Chía (Colombia), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Ecuador) and Harvard Extension School at Harvard University.

Antonio Ruiz Galisteo, National Distance Education University

Antonio Ruiz Galisteo is a primary school teacher in a public school (Andalusia, Spain). Graduated in Teaching specialized in Physical Education and Primary Education, both from the University of Málaga (Spain). Master in Communication and Online Education from the National University of Distance Education. He has worked in several public schools. In some of these schools he has been dealing with students at risk of social exclusion, being considered schools with difficult performance. He has actively participated in educational programs to improve schools and their students, related to equality of gender education, healthy lifestyle or new technologies.

Luis M. Romero-Rodríguez, Rey Juan Carlos University and ESAI Business School, Espiritu Santo University

Luis M. Romero-Rodríguez is professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Sociology at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Madrid, Spain) and visiting professor at ESAI Business School, Universidad Espíritu Santo (Guayaquil, Ecuador). Ph.D. in Communication from the Universities of Seville, Malaga, Huelva and Cadiz (Spain), Master in Social Communication from the University of Almeria (Spain) and Bachelor in Social Communication from the University Santa Maria (Venezuela). He is a founding member of the Euro-American Interuniversity Network of Research on Media Competencies for Citizenship (Alfamed), associate editor of Comunicar Journal and Anàlisi Journal. His lines of research focus on media literacy, social control, and manipulation.

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Published

2023-03-20

How to Cite

Gil-Quintana, J., Ruiz Galisteo, A., & Romero-Rodríguez, L. M. (2023). Girl YouTubers: Interaction, creation, and emotions during COVID-19 confinement. Observatorio (OBS*), 17(1). https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS17120232171

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Articles

License

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