Özet:

This study focuses on self-presentations on social networks and impression management tactics of Internet users aged 65-74 defined as "young-age" individuals. Social networking sites, a subtype of social media tools that are widely used, provide users with the opportunity to express themselves, communicate, receive news, spend time and perform self-presentations. The Internet and social networks are increasing every day, and social networks are also opening an expression space for older users. In the framework of the study, Goffman’s theory of dramatics and the classifications of the impression management tactics that various researchers have shown, the youth-old social networking sites discussed the self-presentation and impression management tactics. On the other hand, it appears that in recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic period, age-related speech has increased, and age discrimination against elderly individuals has emerged in the forefront both in society and on social networks. One goal of the study is to gain an idea of the concept of aging and the perception of aging built in society reflect the attitudes and behaviors of elderly individuals on social networks. In this framework; in the framework of the research conducted by quality research methods, the findings obtained after the discussions with half-built questions conducted in profound interviews with the individual of 25 youth-old social network users, the findings obtained with visual analysis. The research finds that young-old individuals tend to present their honest self in their social networks performance but show themselves “as they’re”, although they’re claiming that they’re defending themselves by developing a “ideal self compatible with society”. Young-age individuals cannot exceed the social norms and expectations attributed to their age groups with their "loss", "sins", "inappropriate" and "fear" codes, and they are under the influence of the social pressure they feel, striking their own self in their sharing. The results of the study also show that, although they are not familiar with the concept of aging, young-old individuals apply aging towards themselves and are also exposed to aging speech by their relatives.

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Özet:

This study focuses on the self-presentations and impression management tactics of internet users aged 65-74, defined as “young-old” individuals, on social networking sites. Social networking sites, which are a widely used sub-type of social media tools, provide users with the opportunity to express themselves, communicate, receive news, spend time and present themselves. The internet and social network usage rates of elderly individuals are increasing day by day, and social networking sites open up a space of expression for elderly users.

 Within the scope of the study, self-presentation and impression management tactics of young-old people on social networking sites were discussed based on the classifications of Goffman's dramaturgy theory and impression management tactics put forward by various theorists. On the other hand, in recent years, especially in the Covid-19 Pandemic period, it has been recognized that ageism discourses have increased and age discrimination against elderly individuals has come to the fore both in society and in social networking sites. The other aim of the research is; to have an idea about the reflection of the concept of ageism and the perception of old age built in the society on the attitudes and behaviors of elderly individuals on social networking sites. In this context, in-depth interviews were completed with 25 young-old social network users within the scope of the research carried out with qualitative research methods and the findings obtained after the interviews with semi-structured questions were analyzed with descriptive analysis. The results of the research are that young-old individuals tend to present their honest selves in their social network performances, but they protect themselves by developing an “ideal self that is compatible with the society”, although they claim to show themselves “as they are”. Young-old individuals cannot go beyond social norms and expectations attributed to their age groups with codes of “shame”, “sin”, “inappropriateness” and “fear” and they feel under the influence of social pressure and almost inhibit their own selves in their sharing. The result of the study also shows that although they are not familiar with the concept of ageism, they apply ageism to young-old individuals and are exposed to ageist discourses by their relatives.

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