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

Gülnur Yenilmez Kaçar

doi:10.52642/susbed.1290299

EN TR

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Kaynakça

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Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

İletişim Çalışmaları

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yazarlar

Gülnur Yenilmez Kaçar ^*
0000-0003-0454-741X
Türkiye

Yayımlanma Tarihi

31 Ağustos 2023

Gönderilme Tarihi

30 Nisan 2023

Kabul Tarihi

27 Temmuz 2023

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2023 Sayı: 51

DOI

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

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA63TC32HR

APA

Yenilmez Kaçar, G. (2023). The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 51, 421-436. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1290299

AMA

1.Yenilmez Kaçar G. The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted. SUSBED. 2023;(51):421-436. doi:10.52642/susbed.1290299

Chicago

Yenilmez Kaçar, Gülnur. 2023. “The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, sy 51: 421-36. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1290299.

EndNote

Yenilmez Kaçar G (01 Ağustos 2023) The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 51 421–436.

IEEE

[1]G. Yenilmez Kaçar, “The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted”, SUSBED, sy 51, ss. 421–436, Ağu. 2023, doi: 10.52642/susbed.1290299.

ISNAD

Yenilmez Kaçar, Gülnur. “The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 51 (01 Ağustos 2023): 421-436. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1290299.

JAMA

1.Yenilmez Kaçar G. The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted. SUSBED. 2023;:421–436.

MLA

Yenilmez Kaçar, Gülnur. “The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, sy 51, Ağustos 2023, ss. 421-36, doi:10.52642/susbed.1290299.

Vancouver

1.Gülnur Yenilmez Kaçar. The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted. SUSBED. 01 Ağustos 2023;(51):421-36. doi:10.52642/susbed.1290299