The role of social media on high school students' perception of religion (Ordu / Altinordu case)

Technological developments, the internet and social media have led to a structural transformation of all elements of society. This transformation has not only affected communication processes, but social media, which is the carrier of global culture, has caused every aspect of our lives to change, from our behavior to our consumption habits. Today, social media has become a very effective force in forming public opinion, addressing the masses and directing perceptions. For this reason, the effects of social media on young people's perception of religion constitute the main subject of our study. Our aim is to investigate how religious content on social media affects the religious feelings, thoughts and behaviors of young people. In our qualitative research, literature review and semi-structured interview technique were used. In the first part of our study, a conceptual and theoretical framework was created and social media, religion and youth issues were discussed. In our field study, interviews were conducted with high school students aged 14-18 who were studying in high school in Ordu/Altınordu. As a result of our research, it was seen that social media has a very important impact on the beliefs, worship, morals and behaviors of young people. In addition, movies and videos on social media have been found to cause a negative perception of religion by misusing religious institutions, people and symbols.