Abstract

With technological developments, there is social distancing and disconnection in terms of creating physical unity between people. With the global spread of the Internet, the use of new media platforms among people is expanding considerably. Due to this expansion, physical ties between societies are replaced by remote communication. The fact that people stay away from physical ties has pushed them to create their own personal worlds on new media platforms and to prove and accept their self-identity to the societies they are in. In this study, it is aimed to show that students studying at Bitlis Eren University, Güroymak Vocational School are in the expectation of being liked in the posts they have shared on new media platforms and to reveal the reasons for this expectation. Phenomonological approach was used in the research. The participants of the study were selected by random sampling method. Students' opinions were collected through semi-structured interview technique. Content analysis method was used to analyze the data. As a result of the study, it is seen that students who post on new media platforms are in the idea of social acceptance towards their peers and relatives due to limited face-to-face communication opportunities. It is seen that students act in the expectation of being liked and accepted in their posts. As a result of the fulfillment of expectations, students experience happiness, self-confidence, improvement in their relations with the social environment and an adjustment in their perspectives towards life. Technological advances and the inclusion of the internet phenomenon in media platforms cause the concern of being liked and accepted among students. In addition, since the interview/interview method was applied to the participants, the ethics committee permission was deemed appropriate with the decision of "Bitlis Eren University Ethical Principles and Ethics Committee numbered 2024/03-29 and E.5281.