The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted

Year 2023, Issue: 51, 421 - 436, 31.08.2023

Gülnur Yenilmez Kaçar

https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1290299

Abstract

Social connectedness, an indicator of psychological well-being, requires social interaction and communication among individuals. Prior research usually examined the relationship between the use of online communication channels and the sense of social connectedness under the circumstances where face-to-face communication was readily available. Pandemic provided an excellent setting to study the sole effect of the use of online communication on social connectedness as online communication was not accompanied by in-person communication due to restrictions such as lockdowns. Seizing the opportunity, this study aims at investigating the relationship between the use of online communication platforms and social connectedness at a time when face-to-face communication was not an option and individuals employed online communication channels heavily. To this end, a survey was conducted online on 406 college students in Turkey in November- December 2022 to present retrospective analyses. The findings indicate while face-to-face communication is the prime component to build social connectedness, the use of online communication channels, particularly WhatsApp, social networking sites, video call helped to maintain social bonds among individuals when in-person communication was virtually absent. The research provides insights on how different communication channels can promote social connectedness with varying degrees depending on their social presence.

Keywords

Online Communication Channels, Social Connectedness, Social Media, Pandemic, Social Presence

Yüz yüze İletişimin Kısıtlı Olduğu Durumlarda Sosyal Bağlılığın Korunmasında Online İletişim Platformlarının Rolü

Abstract

Psikolojik iyi oluş halinin bir göstergesi olan sosyal bağlılık, bireyler arasında sosyal etkileşim ve iletişimi gerekli kılmaktadır. Önceki çalışmalar online iletişim kanallarının kullanımı ile sosyal bağlılık hissi arasındaki ilişkiyi genellikle yüz yüze iletişimin de kolayca mümkün olduğu koşullarda incelemiştir. Sokağa çıkma yasakları gibi kısıtlamalar nedeniyle yüz yüze iletişimin mümkün olmadığı pandemi süreci, online iletişimin sosyal bağlılık üzerindeki tek başına etkisini incelemek için mükemmel bir ortam sağlamıştır. Bu fırsattan yararlanarak, bu çalışma, yüz yüze iletişimin bir seçenek olmadığı ve bireylerin online iletişim kanallarını yoğun bir şekilde kullandığı bir dönemde, online iletişim platformlarının kullanımı ile sosyal bağlılık arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, Kasım-Aralık 2022'de Türkiye'de 406 üniversite öğrencisi ile çevrimiçi bir anket yapılmıştır. Bulgular, yüz yüze iletişimin sosyal bağlılık oluşturmak için temel bileşen olduğunu, ancak özellikle WhatsApp, sosyal ağ siteleri ve görüntülü görüşme uygulamaları gibi online iletişim kanallarının, yüz yüze iletişimin kısıtlı olduğu durumlarda bireyler arasındaki sosyal bağları korumaya yardımcı olduğunu göstermektedir. Araştırma, farklı iletişim kanallarının sosyal bulunuşluk özelliklerine bağlı olarak değişen derecelerde sosyal bağlılığı nasıl artırabileceğine ilişkin fikirler sunmaktadır.

Keywords

Online İletişim Kanalları, Sosyal Bağlılık, Sosyal Medya, Pandemi, Sosyal Bulunuşluk

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