USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE INTEGRATION PROCESS OF REFUGEES: EXAMPLE OF SYRIAN REFUGEES LIVING IN SANLIURFA

Abstract

The inclusion of social media platforms in our lives has made it effective in many areas. Today, individuals meet their needs such as communication, entertainment, following the news, shopping and integration through social media platforms. Social media is especially important for the integration of individuals immigrating to a different country. Individuals who have the opportunity to communicate with other individuals through social media platforms can share their feelings, thoughts, expectations and requests with the individuals they communicate with. On the other hand, thanks to social media platforms, individuals who are new to society can communicate with both the individuals of the society and the individuals who are later included in the society, and make sense of the society they have just joined by taking advantage of these platforms. In this study on Syrian refugees living in Şanlıurfa, the social media usage habits of the refugees were investigated during the integration process. In the study, the social media use of refugees whose survey technique was used was tried to be investigated in full detail. It has been determined that refugees benefit greatly from social media during the integration process, and that refugees have an integration attitude, but they feel they belong to their own culture. Among the findings of the study, participants benefited from the internet quite often. Participants stated that they use social media in order to integrate into Turkish culture. Among the findings of the study, the most used media of the participants was Turkish social media and then ethnic social media.