Exploring the use of line stickers to bridge the gap in developing parent–emerging adult relationships: Taiwanese emerging adults’ perspectives in family communication patterns and their influence strategies

Abstract

A gap exists in the literature on gender-specific expectations in Taiwanese family communication patterns (FCP) regarding emerging adults’ formation and presentation of an aesthetic identity and use of aesthetic strategies to influence their parents. This study explores how socio-oriented FCPs affect Taiwanese emerging adults in virtual aesthetic contexts, focusing on their aesthetic identity formation and presentation and their use of influence strategies through Line sticker interactions with parents. The methodological approach followed the principles of interpretive phenomenology. The results could be useful in not only understanding parent–emerging adult relationships through the ongoing virtual aesthetic learning process but also gaining insights into how socio-oriented FCPs change between parents and emerging adults. A main contribution of this study is that it suggests a way in which Line stickers can be used to bridge the gap in gender-specific expectations, thereby increasing the parent–emerging adult bond.