The Effect of Digital Platforms on Place Attachment: A Case Study from 100. YIL EVLERİ and AYRANCI AHALİSİ Facebook Group Pages

Date

2023-6-22

Author

Karabeyoğlu, Ekinsu

Metadata

Show full item record

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Item Usage Stats

304
views

571
downloads

Cite This

Individuals' interactions and connections in the digital realm are generally connected to physical places. In addition, the digital interactions that people establish within specific locations or the creation of digital communities through digital interaction can influence individuals' attachment to physical places. There is a growing concern regarding the impact of placelessness in the digital age, which can have detrimental effects on social interactions. However, as the key differentiating factor between place and space at the spatial level, social interactions have become significant in everyday life through digital platforms. This study investigates the relationship between digital platforms and place attachment in neighborhood contexts. The main problem revolves around understanding how digital platforms shape individuals' connections to their physical environments and the implications of this relationship for urban experiences. To address this, the data is collected from an online survey of Facebook neighborhood groups in two specific neighborhoods: Ayrancı and Yüzüncü Yıl İşçi Blokları. The survey employed a combination of open-ended questions to gather participants' opinions and insights and various question types like multiple questions, Likert questions, Yes/No questions to assess the relationship between place attachment and digital platforms. After that, the analysis of the collected data (N:182) followed a mixed-method approach involving content analysis for the open-ended questions and utilizing the IBM SPSS program for correlation and crosstabulation analyses of other questionnaire items. This approach facilitated a comprehensive examination of the research topic, allowing for qualitative and quantitative insights to be integrated into the study. The results revealed a moderately strong positive relationship between participants' perceived contribution to community-building through Facebook groups and their level of attachment to the neighborhood. Active involvement in solidarity activities facilitated by digital platforms was positively associated with place attachment. These findings highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between digital platforms and place attachment, suggesting that the impact may vary depending on specific factors and contextual aspects. The study emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the interplay between digital technologies and place attachment, considering the diverse experiences and uses of digital platforms and individual differences. It contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the role of digital platforms in shaping people's connections to their physical environments. It provides insights into digital platforms' potential benefits and limitations for fostering a sense of place and community in urban settings. The findings have implications for urban planning and the design of digital platforms that aim to enhance place attachment and promote a sense of belonging in urban communities.

Subject Keywords

Digital Platforms, Place Attachment, Social Interaction, Digital Experience, Place Attachment Survey

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/104505

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis