Social Representations of Social Media Users toward Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Abstract

While the Syrian refugees crisis has increasingly continued its effect in both Turkey and other neighboring countries and European countries for more than five years, refugees do not adapt themselves to society in country of asylum, and are exposed to social exclusion. The purpose of the study is to explore social representations of social media users toward Syrian refugees in Turkey with a qualitative approach; because social representations may indicate the problems in the integration process of Syrian refugees and Turkish society, and the reasons of social exclusion toward Syrian refugees. Accordingly 98 entries, which were taken from frequently used social dictionaries in Turkey, were evaluated by researchers and seven thematic units were formed. Thematic units reflect (i) perceived negative features of Syrian refugees, (ii) perceived threats in Turkey due to Syrian refugees, (iii) criticisms toward Syrian refugees policy of Turkish government, (iv) positive attitudes toward Syrian refugees, (v) perceived political importance of Syrian refugees, (vi) proposed solutions toward perceived Syrian refugees problem, and (vii) other criticisms toward Syrian refugees issue. Findings provide useful information which can be used to enable the social adaptation of Syrian refugees into Turkish society

Keywords

• immigration
• Syrian refugees
• social media users
• Turkish society
• social representation
• social exclusion