The relationship of identity and space in the context of identity construction through Instagram: Example of a Starbucks

With the development of new media, communication options between people have gained a very different dimension. Especially with the development of social media, changes have occurred in the lives of individuals. Individuals are in the process of building a different personality on social media. This process that started with Facebook is now continuing with Instagram. Today, Instagram is an important factor in individuals' identity constructions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the users of Instagram who they want to be not as they are in Instagram. The target group for this study was university graduates and university students aged 18-24. Application were applied face-to-face method in the Starbucks cafes that located in Bahçeşehir and Levent Özdilek Shopping Mall by answering the questionnaire questions from the tablet. A total of 215 people, 112 women and 103 men, participated in this study. As a result of the study; participants spend a lot of time on social media. Participants stated their purpose of using social media as to feel a sense of belonging and to interact with new people. It shows that on Instagram and on social media in general, people have a different identity and life, that they are happy here, and that they reinforce their self-confidence here. In addition, participants think that Instagram gives them a positive image. It has been concluded that cafes like Starbucks provide social isolation like Instagram, where people feel privileged and special, happy and peaceful. Key Words: Social Media, Instagram, Identity Construction, Space