YOUTUBE AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE: APPROACHES TO WILDFIRES
Öz
Climate change and wildfires are profoundly affecting ecological and social life in Türkiye, as they are around the world. In this process, social media platforms such as X, YouTube, and Instagram are prominent in terms of accessing information about fires, expressing opinions, and participating in public discussions. This study aims to examine how wildfires are interpreted in the social media environment in Türkiye. The sample for the research consists of user comments on the video titled “Türkiye Neden Sürekli Yanıyor?” by the Evrim Ağacı channel, which produces scientific content on the YouTube platform. Accordingly, the research was conducted using the netnography method, and the data was obtained through archival data collection techniques. The collected data was evaluated within the framework of main themes such as institutional and political inquiries, proposed solutions to wildfires, scientific approaches and social perceptions, and emotional reactions. The study found that users viewed wildfires not only as a phenomenon related to climate change, but also in the context of structural and institutional problems, technical infrastructure deficiencies, and economic interests. In this context, it was determined that social media functions as an effective platform for raising environmental awareness and forming critical public opinion.
Anahtar Kelimeler
social media, YouTube, wildfires, climate change, netnography
Kaynakça
- Atmiş, E., Tolunay, D. & Yıldız, D. (2022). İklim değişikliği ve ormanlar arasındaki ilişkinin medyadaki yeri. Bartın Orman Fakültesi Dergisi, 24(3), 514-529.
- Atmiş, E., Tolunay & D. Erdönmez, C. (2023). Orman Yangınlarının Sayısal Analizi. (Kavgacı, A., Başaran, M. Eds) In Orman Yangınları. Türkiye Ormancılar Derneği Yayını, 22-44
- Beck, U. (2010). Climate for Change, or How to Create a Green Modernity? Theory, Culture & Society, 27(2-3), 254-266.
- Benkler, Y. (2006). The wealth of networks: How social production transforms markets and freedom. Yale University Press.
- Besnili Memiş, O. (2024). Doğal afetlerin iklim değişikliği algısına etkisi: sosyal medya verileri ile Türkiye’de durum. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi, 15(42), 570-592.
- Boulianne, S., Minaker, J., & Haney, T. J. (2018). Does compassion go viral? Social media, caring, and the Fort McMurray wildfire. Information, Communication & Society, 21(5), 697-711.
- Boykoff, M. T. & Boykoff, J. M. (2007). Climate change and journalistic norms: A case-study of US massmetridia coverage. Geoforum 38 (2007), 1190–1204.
- Bozok, M. & Bozok, N. (2022). Ormanlara, sıcaklara ve yangınlara dair: 2021 Köyceğiz orman yangınlarının sosyolojik izdüşümleri. ViraVerita E-Dergi, (15), 77-104.
- Brossard, D., Shanahan, J. & Mc Comas, K. (2004). Are issue-cycles culturally constructed? A comparison of French and American coverage of global climate change. Mass Communication and Society 7(3), 359–377
- Brüggemann, M. & Engesser, S. (2014). Between consensus and denial: Climate journalists as interpretive community. Science Communication, 36: 399–427.
