The Evaluation of Social Media within the Context of the Silencing System

Abstract

This study is done as a result of the belief that it is essential to examine the behavior of communicating with people, which is one of the basic requirements of people in the 21^st century world, in the scope of digital media and within the framework of the concept of socializing.  The aim of this study is to determine whether people socialize or not through social media in digital media environment which is a new field of study apart from traditional media as well as to find out whether they are excluded, alienated or marginalized from social life as a result of using social media and the evaluation of it.

            In the study, firstly the academic publications in this area are examined and a theoretical study is formed in the light of the Spiral of Silence Theory. After that, a survey is carried out as a field study. The sample chosen for the survey consists of a total of 366 students studying in Gazi University and Başkent University, Faculties of Communication, in the year of 2016-2017, fall semester

            According to the study data evaluated considering the time the participants spend in social media environment, it is discovered that social media does not lead to the socialization of the participants; on the contrary, it causes them to become antisocial by isolating them from their own environments. As a result of the study, internet users, categorized as heavy viewers, are considered to be not very social or antisocial. 

Keywords

• New Media,Social Media,Socialization,Silencing

References

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