A Netnographic Study of Iranian Users’ Reactions to Dubbing Censorship in Instagram Posts

چکیده مقاله

Social online platforms offer a user-friendly venue for individuals to voice their opinions on virtually any topic, including dubbing. Naturally occurring data, such as Instagram comments, are valuable for their ecological validity, as they reflect authentic interactions beyond controlled settings. A few studies have leveraged such data to advance research on the reception of audiovisual translation. Adopting a netnographic approach, this study examines how Iranian viewers perceive censorship in Persian dubbing, as reflected in users’ comments on Instagram posts and sheds light on their reactions and perspectives concerning dubbing censorship in Iran. Findings show strong opposition among Iranian users to the censorship of dubbed content. Many users expressed that censorship distorts the storyline and narrative of the original product, resulting in a less immersive and enjoyable viewing experience. Nonetheless, some users acknowledged the potential benefits of censorship in certain contexts, such as foreign audiovisual content aimed at children and young adults, to safeguard their mental well-being. The paper underscores the need to reevaluate censorship policies in Persian dubbing.