Abstract:

Today, the number of individuals who allocate an important part of their time for social networks has increased and these networks have become more frequently visited virtual platforms together with the effect of new downsized media tools. Extensive usage of social networks, which are an irreplaceable part of especially young peoples’ daily life, has quickened the transition between online and offline worlds and all these developments have required redefinition of socialization phenomenon. Moreover, these networks can be described as new identity platforms, besides being new socialization platforms, in terms of enabling the individuals to express themselves in a way they couldn’t achieve in their face-to-face relationships. This study aims at presenting the Facebook usage practice, which keeps identity building-oriented many features and applications together, of young people between 15-24 years of age and living in Eskişehir, the level and way they use it, their socialization patterns on network and identity building processes. The dramaturgy theory of Goffman and new concepts such as “anchored relationships” and “immobile socialization” pointing at the types of relationships that are established through internet comprise the conceptual framework of the study. In this sense, quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques were used together in the research. Following the survey study carried out with 402 young individuals, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 young individuals in total - 6 face to face and 3 online interviews - and Facebook profiles of 8 individuals were examined through their permission.

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