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Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students

Cilt: 23 Sayı: 2026 24 Haziran 2026
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Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students

Öz

The research examines the role of social media in the Palestinian crisis and the process of digital witnessing. The study focuses on social media's role as an information source, perceptions of digital witnessing, and emotional impacts. This study, employed a qualitative descriptive design, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 10 students studying at university. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis method and findings were reported in two main themes compatible with the research questions. In the theme of perceptions of digital witnessing, sub-themes emerged as immediacy and direct witnessing; alternative voices and contested visibility; and public engagement and collective memory. Participants stated that social media provides the opportunity to directly witness and access perspectives beyond mainstream coverage, and engage in shared awareness and remembrance. In the theme of emotional responses to digital witnessing, sub-themes were identified as: empathy, solidarity, and the impulse to act: anger and moral indignation; and helplessness, trauma, and ambivalent affect. Participants expressed that content shared on social media created intense emotional reactions. The research results show that social media plays an important role in digital witnessing during the Palestine crisis and has a significant emotional impact on university students..

Anahtar Kelimeler

Digital Transformation, Digital witnessing, social media, thematic analysis, Palestine crisis

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by the Educational Sciences Ethics Committee of Mersin University with decision no. 48, taken at meeting no. 2 on 23.12.2024. During the research process, participants were informed about the purpose of the study, participation was based on voluntariness, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of research and publication ethics.

Kaynakça

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Kaynak Göster

APA
Uzun, E. (2026). Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students. OPUS Journal of Society Research, 23(2026), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1937644
AMA
1.Uzun E. Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students. OPUS TAD. 2026;23(2026):1-19. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1937644
Chicago
Uzun, Erman. 2026. “Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 (2026): 1-19. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1937644.
EndNote
Uzun E (01 Haziran 2026) Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 2026 1–19.
IEEE
[1]E. Uzun, “Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students”, OPUS TAD, c. 23, sy 2026, ss. 1–19, Haz. 2026, doi: 10.26466/opusjsr.1937644.
ISNAD
Uzun, Erman. “Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23/2026 (01 Haziran 2026): 1-19. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1937644.
JAMA
1.Uzun E. Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students. OPUS TAD. 2026;23:1–19.
MLA
Uzun, Erman. “Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students”. OPUS Journal of Society Research, c. 23, sy 2026, Haziran 2026, ss. 1-19, doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1937644.
Vancouver
1.Erman Uzun. Digital witnessing of the Palestine crisis: Perceptions and emotional responses among Turkish university students. OPUS TAD. 01 Haziran 2026;23(2026):1-19. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1937644