Social media use and perception of religion in the context of identity among high school youth: The case of Ankara

This study was conducted to understand social media use and the perception of religion in the context of identity among high school youth. The research employed a qualitative methodology and involved interviews with a total of 25 participants studying at various types of high schools: Science High School, Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, Girls' Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, Girls' Vocational and Technical High School, Boys' Vocational and Technical High School, and Social Sciences High School. The interviews were structured around four main themes: perception of religion, social media experiences, social identity, and individual identity. The analysis was based on fundamental qualitative analysis, with thematic and descriptive analyses utilized for evaluation. The research indicates that while young people generally hold positive views of their family relationships, they perceive a noticeable distance in their relationships with their fathers. Adolescents prefer to interact with their peers both face-to-face and through digital platforms, but they place more value on face-to-face interactions due to their depth and the greater sense of well-being they provide. However, young people have a critical perspective on society, viewing it as intolerant and divisive. This adolescent group, belonging to Generation Z, generally bases their opinions on the idea that society is struggling to accept the changes brought about by the new generation. On social media, young people typically follow entertainment content but also maintain a critical stance on religious posts. They argue that accurate religious content can have positive outcomes for society. Their perception of God is largely positive, and they view their religious beliefs as a source of psychological and emotional support. However, there are also young people who are in the process of questioning and are undecided on religious matters. Overall, it is observed that the youths' understanding of religion is shaped within the framework of individual religiosity. Furthermore, the study finds that the participants possess high self-awareness, with themes of "neurotic" and "harmonious" emerging prominently in their self-perceptions. In conclusion, the research provides significant insights into the world of young people. Keywords: perception of religion, social media, identity, generation Z, adolescence