Socio-Cultural Strategy

Socio-Cultural Strategy

Default Future Trap in Family Policy at Digital Age: An Interpretive Analysis of Upstream Policy Documents and Expert Perspectives

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Cultural and Social Governance. Faculty of Governance. Colleges of Management. University of Tehran. Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author).
2 PhD Student, Department of Cultural and Social Governance. Faculty of Governance. Colleges of Management. University of Tehran. Tehran, Iran
10.22034/scs.2026.585811.1819
Abstract
This study adopts a qualitative and interpretive approach to examine the governing logics of digital family policy, with particular emphasis on the distinction between default futures and Created futures. The data were collected at two complementary levels: first, a purposive analysis of national and international policy documents related to family, technology, and digital governance; and second, sixteen semi-structured interviews with experts in policy-making, family studies, media, and technology. Data were analyzed using a flexible thematic analysis approach grounded in the Miles and Huberman framework, moving through open, axial, and selective coding to generate seven final themes. The findings indicate that existing policies remain largely reactive and risk-oriented, focusing mainly on harm reduction, cybersecurity, privacy, and the negative consequences of technology, while giving limited attention to future-oriented, mission-driven, and co-creative capacities. In contrast, the article argues that a transition toward a made future requires a transformation in governance logic, strengthened strategic foresight capacities, structural platform regulation, systematic coordination among relevant institutions, and genuine participation of families and civil society actors in the policy-making process. The results also suggest that families should be understood not merely as technology consumers, but as active stakeholders and co-designers of the digital future. Overall, the study proposes an analytical framework for digital family policy and highlights the need to move from crisis management toward anticipatory, future-oriented, and mission-driven governance.
Keywords
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 09 June 2026
  • Revise Date 19 July 2026
  • Accept Date 19 July 2026