Effects And Dynamics Of Social Media Use In Digital Social Identity Formation

Year 2024, Issue: 12, 70 - 80, 30.06.2024

Mehmet Erhan Summak

https://doi.org/10.58455/cutsad.1503427

Abstract

In this study, the role of social media platforms in the processes of creating and expressing people's social identities with the development of the digital age was examined. Social media is a critical tool in the process of shaping individuals' identities in the digital environment. Online interactions, in particular, play an important role in determining how people see themselves and perceive others. Additionally, the study emphasized that friendship networks and content management are important in the formation and shaping of online identities. While friends and followers influence users to organize their online presence, content sharing also influences the search for social approval. However, it highlights that factors such as comparison and competition on social media can lead to negative effects on individuals' self-esteem, and ensuring a consistent online identity presentation can be a challenging process. It is understood that privacy and anonymity play an important role in the process of establishing online identities. It has been shown that it is possible to strike a balance between real name use and anonymity, and that social media platforms' privacy settings can help users organize their online presence. However, it is also a reality that in this process, users may encounter internal and external pressures and may have to navigate the complexity of their online identities. In addition, the negative effects of social media on social identity were also discussed in the study. It has been emphasized that with the spread of social media, some negative effects have emerged and these effects may increase the stress and anxiety experienced by users. Considering these points, attention is also drawn to the importance of discussions on the future of social identity on digital platforms. In this context, more research is needed to understand and deal with the effects of social media on people's social identities.

Keywords

Digital Age, Social Identity, Social Media, Privaciy, Anonymity

Dijital Sosyal Kimlik Oluşumunda Sosyal Medya Kullanımının Etkileri ve Dinamikleri

Abstract

Bu çalışma da, dijital çağın gelişimiyle birlikte sosyal medya platformlarının insanların sosyal kimliklerini oluşturma ve ifade etme süreçlerindeki rolü incelenmiştir. Sosyal medya, bireylerin dijital ortamdaki kimliklerini şekillendirme sürecinde kritik bir araçtır. Özellikle çevrimiçi etkileşimlerin, insanların kendilerini nasıl gördüklerini ve diğerlerini nasıl algıladıklarını belirlemede önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Ayrıca çalışmada, arkadaşlık ağlarının ve içerik yönetiminin çevrimiçi kimliklerin oluşumunda ve şekillendirilmesinde önemli olduğu vurgulanmıştır. Arkadaşlar ve takipçiler, kullanıcıların çevrimiçi varlıklarını düzenlemelerinde etkili olurken, içerik paylaşımı da sosyal onay arayışını etkilemektedir. Bununla birlikte, sosyal medyadaki karşılaştırma ve rekabet gibi faktörlerin, bireylerin benlik saygısı üzerinde olumsuz etkilere yol açabileceği ve tutarlı bir çevrimiçi kimlik sunumunu sağlamak için zorlu bir süreçle karşılaşılabileceğini vurgulamaktadır.
Gizliliğin ve anonimliğin de çevrimiçi kimliklerin oluşturulması sürecinde önemli bir rol oynadığı anlaşılmaktadır. Gerçek isim kullanımı ile anonimlik arasında bir denge kurmanın mümkün olduğu ve sosyal medya platformlarının gizlilik ayarlarının, kullanıcıların çevrimiçi varlıklarını düzenlemelerine yardımcı olabileceği görülmüştür. Ancak bu süreçte kullanıcıların içsel ve dışsal baskılarla karşılaşabileceği ve çevrimiçi kimliklerinin karmaşıklığında gezinmek zorunda kalabilecekleri de bir gerçekliktir. Ayrıca çalışmada sosyal medyanın sosyal kimlik üzerindeki olumsuz etkileri de ele alınmıştır. Sosyal medyanın yaygınlaşmasıyla birlikte, bazı olumsuz etkilerin ortaya çıktığı ve bu etkilerin kullanıcıların yaşadığı stres ve kaygıları artırabileceği vurgulanmıştır. Bu noktaları göz önünde bulundurarak, dijital platformlarda sosyal kimliğin geleceği üzerine yapılan tartışmaların önemine de dikkat çekilmiştir. Bu bağlamda, sosyal medyanın insanların sosyal kimlikleri üzerindeki etkilerini anlamak ve bu etkilerle başa çıkmak için daha fazla araştırmaya ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.

Keywords

Dijital Çağ, sosyal Kimlik, Sosyal Medya, Gizlilik, Anonimlik

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