Research Article

Exploring Young People's Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience

Volume: 37 Number: 3 July 29, 2026
TR EN

Exploring Young People's Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience

Abstract

Young people’s use of social media platforms has both positive and negative effects on their identity development and preferences. This study examines how young people navigate social media risks and engagement, focusing on the development of resilience in relation to identity formation and emotional well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 young people (22 women and 18 men), and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The research results identified three main themes: (a) recognizing the effects of social media, (b) navigating emotional and relational challenges and (c) coping with digital harassment and seeking emotional validation. The results show that while young people benefit from social media in their relationships, their emotional development can fluctuate based on feelings of acceptance or exclusion. To address the diverse impacts of social media, policymakers must implement safety measures to help young people build digital resilience.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Bartın University

Ethical Statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Bartın University (ref: 2024-SBB-0103).

Thanks

We would like to thank all participants involved in this study. The authors wish to express their gratitude to Fatma Uyanık, Şeyma Yaman and Yağmur Kılınçarslan for their valuable assistance with data collection.

References

  1. REFERENCES Alt, D. (2015). College students’ academic motivation, media engagement and fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 111–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.02.057
  2. Arroyo, A., & Brunner, S. R. (2016). Negative body talk as an outcome of friends’ fitness posts on social networking sites: Body surveillance and social comparison as potential moderators 44(3),. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 44(3), 216–235.
  3. Ayar, D., Gerçeker, G. O., Ozdemir, E. Z., & Bektaş, M. (2018). The effect of problematic internet use, social appearance anxiety, and social media use on nursing students’ nomophobia levels. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 36(12), 589–595.
  4. Balcı, Ş., & Baloğlu, E. (2018). Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı ile Depresyon Arasındaki İlişki: “Üniversite Gençliği Üzerine Bir Saha Araştırması.” Galatasaray Üniversitesi İletişm Dergisi. https://doi.org/10.16878/gsuilet.500860
  5. Barry, C., Britten, N., Barber, N., Bradley, C., & Stevenson, F. (1999). Using reflexivity to optimize teamwork in qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research, 9(1), 26–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/104973299129121677
  6. Best, P., Manktelow, R., & Taylor, B. (2014). Online communication, social media and adolescent wellbeing: A systematic narrative review. Children and Youth Services Review, 41, 27–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHILDYOUTH.2014.03.001
  7. Binark, M., & Günseli, B. (2013). Yeni Medya ve Etik. Kalkedon Yayıncılık.
  8. Bloomberg, L. D., & Volpe, M. (2014). Presenting methodology and research approach. In Completing your qualitative dissertation: A roadmap from beginning to end. SAGE Publications.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Counselling, Wellbeing and Community Services, Clinical Social Work Practice

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 29, 2026

Submission Date

November 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 37 Number: 3

APA
Turhan, Z., & Arslan, S. (2026). Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience. Toplum Ve Sosyal Hizmet, 37(3), 789-808. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.1817205
AMA
1.Turhan Z, Arslan S. Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2026;37(3):789-808. doi:10.33417/tsh.1817205
Chicago
Turhan, Zeynep, and Sudenaz Arslan. 2026. “Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience”. Toplum Ve Sosyal Hizmet 37 (3): 789-808. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.1817205.
EndNote
Turhan Z, Arslan S (July 1, 2026) Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet 37 3 789–808.
IEEE
[1]Z. Turhan and S. Arslan, “Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience”, Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 789–808, July 2026, doi: 10.33417/tsh.1817205.
ISNAD
Turhan, Zeynep - Arslan, Sudenaz. “Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience”. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet 37/3 (July 1, 2026): 789-808. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.1817205.
JAMA
1.Turhan Z, Arslan S. Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2026;37:789–808.
MLA
Turhan, Zeynep, and Sudenaz Arslan. “Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience”. Toplum Ve Sosyal Hizmet, vol. 37, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 789-08, doi:10.33417/tsh.1817205.
Vancouver
1.Zeynep Turhan, Sudenaz Arslan. Exploring Young People’s Social Media Engagement and Digital Resilience. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2026 Jul. 1;37(3):789-808. doi:10.33417/tsh.1817205