Intercultural impacts of social media usage for international students in their educational situations: The case study on African students in Sakarya University

In this contemporary world, technology in general and social media in particular play a significant role in adaptation process of international students in their educational situations. This thesis examines intercultural impacts of social media usage on African students in Sakarya University. Analyzing intercultural impacts of social media usage, empirical data have been collected from African students of Sakarya University during the 2019-2021 semester through different methods of qualitative research. Primary sources were notably collected from interviews and secondary information sources to work on this study. With the analysis based on cross-cultural adaptation theories, three key findings have emerged in this research. In academic adaptation, the cultural capital theory which promotes cultural mobility was utilized to analyze learning environment. It has been discussed that language barriers lead African students to the stress and frustration in their education. Thus, social media usage determines pedagogic and communication means to learn Turkish language. In psychological adaptation, the AUM theory which illustrates uncertainty and anxiety in the host culture was also used to improve cross-cultural interaction skills. As a result, social media usage alleviates the feelings of homesickness in educational milieus. In socio-cultural adaptation, the acculturation model theory was utilized to portray the conditions of cultural changes in host environment. It has been confirmed that social media usage is a positive strategy in cross-cultural contacts to provide effective communication among students. Finally, it has been concluded that social media usage plays a considerable role in the educational adaptation process of African Students in Sakarya University.