Reverse migration phenomenon: Sociological analysis of stories of people fleeing from the city

Excessive consumption of resources, dissatisfaction and increasing competition between individuals due to the influence of consumer culture have various negative effects on society. As a result of these negativities, some individuals tend to move away from life practices based on consumption and labor exploitation. In this context, the documentary series Escaping the City on the +90 channel on the YouTube platform is a documentary series that visits reverse migration individuals and their families throughout Turkey and discusses their transition to natural habitats. This study focuses on examining the phenomenon of migration from city to village. Throughout human history, individuals have sought to find better conditions in the places they live. While this search resulted in migration to big cities in the past, the problems brought by big cities have today led many people to the idea of returning to nature. Data collection started on February 15, 2021. In the study, qualitative research method was preferred in order to examine the collected data in detail. Using document and content analysis techniques, reverse migration individuals in different geographical regions of Turkey were examined. Themes were created by analyzing the data obtained and the interviews on the YouTube channel. In the findings obtained in the research; It reveals that the reverse migration process is not specific to retirement or old age, and that individuals decide to migrate from city to village in a planned and systematic way. In this process, it was evaluated to what extent the habits specific to urban life could be abandoned, and the dynamics that led individuals away from a dependent lifestyle and towards being productive individuals who could manage their own affairs were examined. The quest to get away from the negativities of city life such as chaos, noise and traffic, and the search for a simple and serene life, drives individuals away from cities. In addition, the short distances and ease of transportation in rural areas are comforting and different for individuals coming from the city. It has also been observed that reverse migration individuals aim to inspire people by sharing simple and understandable aspects of their lives rather than just producing content on platforms such as YouTube. The aim of this study is to provide a different perspective to the literature on reverse migration.