Conservative women's use of social media: The case study of Şanlıurfa

In the historical process, communication has always been a basic need of social life. Changing technology has also changed the way of realizing these needs. Today, media is an important tool of information and socialization. Media platforms that have changed in recent years also allow different forms of information and socialization.In particular, social media has an increasingly widespread effect that includes many different identities and social classes. This study examine the social media usage practices of conservative women in Şanlıurfa. Media is an important tool of information and socialization. Media platforms that have changed in recent years also allow different forms of information and socialization. In particular, social media has an increasingly widespread effect that includes many different identities and social classes. This study deals with the social media usage practices of conservative women in Şanlıurfa.The aim of the study is to analyze how and for what purpose conservative women living in Şanlıurfa use social media platforms (instagram). In addition, the focus is on how the use of social media transforms the conservative identity. The field study was carried out with the qualitative research method and the data were collected by in-depth individual interview and document analysis technique. The findings compiled from the study group selected with purposeful sampling in the research were analyzed through content analysis. According to the research findings, it has been determined that the daily frequency of conservative women in Şanlıurfa using social media platforms (73 minutes) is below the world (147 minutes) and Turkey (183 minutes) averages. The purposes of women's use of social media (Instagram); focuses on socialization, information and economy categories.The attitude of cautious approach to innovations stemming from conservative identity is also reflected in women's practices of using social media. As a matter of fact, conservative women display a selective approach when using social media tools that offer a new opportunity for communication and interaction.It has been determined that conservative values, especially in terms of privacy, private and public boundaries, are reflected in social media usage practices. Conservative women, while acting eclectically towards technology, are also exposed to intense stimuli that threaten their conservative identities. As a result, technological change processes force conservative identities to transform along with all identities. In the example of Şanlıurfa, conservative women also experience this process of change to varying degrees.