Wattpad in Youth Literature Based on the Experiences of Turkish Teachers and Secondary School Students

Abstract

This study aims to discover the view, opinion, perception and experiences of Turkish teachers and secondary school students towards Wattpad, an online literacy community, to interpret them educationally, to determine the reasons for their use and to interpret the main plot of youth literature on the axis of changing reading perception/behavior and expectations of youth. It is foreseen that the study has comparatively discussed literature-education and new reading types on the axis of the teacher and student, the direct participants of learning-teaching within this scope, and therefore fills the gap in the literature. The research design is phenomenology, one of the qualitative research designs. Data obtained through semi-structured interviews from Turkish teachers and secondary school students were subjected to content analysis. The findings of the study are as follows: Youth enjoy spending long time on Wattpad via their phones and feel themselves free. They think that the application develops reading and writing habits; read and write mainly about love and science fiction; prefer digital reading over printed books and/or classics; comment and criticize books/articles with their peers. Turkish teachers have educational concerns and do not find appropriate for youth to spend time on this platform; because it includes violence, sexuality etc. Therefore, it can be said that there is a conflict and a difference of opinion between teachers and youth.

Digital Extensive Reading in Indonesia: A Critical Review

“…Besides, this study also revealed the weaknesses of using Wattpad for performing extensive reading based on the students' perceptions, which were similarities in the reading materials that sometimes make them boring to read, tired eyes, distractions from the other notifications, and battery power-draining (Permatasari et al, 2020). Besides, a previous study conducted by Başoğul (2021) revealed that Turkish secondary school students enjoyed spending their time on Wattpad because they argued that Wattpad could develop their reading and writing habits as well as give comments and criticize books/articles with their peers, so that they liked digital reading through Wattpad (Başoğul, 2021). However, this study also revealed that the teachers argued that the students had to utilize Wattpad carefully for digital reading because it might include violence, sexuality, and other inappropriate contents (Başoğul, 2021).…”

“…Besides, a previous study conducted by Başoğul (2021) revealed that Turkish secondary school students enjoyed spending their time on Wattpad because they argued that Wattpad could develop their reading and writing habits as well as give comments and criticize books/articles with their peers, so that they liked digital reading through Wattpad (Başoğul, 2021). However, this study also revealed that the teachers argued that the students had to utilize Wattpad carefully for digital reading because it might include violence, sexuality, and other inappropriate contents (Başoğul, 2021). Besides, another similar study conducted by Sari (2022) revealed that many students believed that Wattpad could be used as a useful digital media because the students could read the collections of the digital stories through Wattpad (Sari, 2022).…”

A Study on Turkish Books in Wattpad Platform using Tags and Popularity Rankings

“…In her doctoral thesis, Sivri (2021) evaluated Turkish Wattpad novels with the method of feminist literary criticism and evaluated the texts produced by conservative young women and the reader comments on these texts while deconstructing the hegemonic masculinity and accentuated femininity produced in this new subculture. Başoğul (2021), in her study, interpreted the opinions of Turkish teachers and secondary school students about Wattpad. According to the results obtained in the study, it was seen that 7 th and 8 th grade students among secondary school students use Wattpad more and prefer to use this application from the mobile environment.…”

“…According to the results obtained in the study, it was seen that 7 th and 8 th grade students among secondary school students use Wattpad more and prefer to use this application from the mobile environment. According to the general view of Turkish teachers, it has been learned that students with low academic success and family problems use this application to be popular and attract attention among their peers (Başoğul, 2021). Acar et al (2021) examining the fifteen completed Turkish books that reached 150,000 or more likes in the ChickLit (young woman's literature) category on Wattpad platform, revealed that the books have content features of sexually explicit behaviors; such as, unhealthy family representations, representations of men and women, in which gender characteristics are emphasized, risky behaviors; such as, substance use, crime, violence, suicide, sexual intercourse at an early age, pornographic presentations, and rape.…”

The Use of Wattpad in English Language Teaching and Learning: Is It Helpful?

“…Independent reading and writing activities on Wattpad are perceived as calming and amusing by secondary school pupils. In light of these findings, relevant educators should combine learning and teaching environments by developing various action plans based on students' in-class and out-of-class experiences, as well as their interests and requirement (Başoğul, 2021).…”