SOCIAL MEDIA AS A COMMUNICATION MEDIUM: A STUDY FOR THE FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION OF USAK UNIVERSITY

Computer/internet has made it easier for the individuals to communicate with each other and to obtain information. As a matter of fact, people now can get the information directly from the source without any intermediary persons and taking into consideration the suitable options for their own situation. The man who has been trying to prove himself in the world that has become the domain of a small village can reach the most remote areas without being gatekeeper and time limitation by minimizing the cost of information from computer/internet. Besides being user-based, virtual media, which is also called social media, is of vital importance in terms of bringing people together and enhancing their interaction. In this virtual reality, people heve been living their lives by spending much time, trying to meet their requirements, and also building a new world in this environment. Sometimes the fine line between the virtual world and the real world can not be recognized. The virtual media is rapidly rising, especially among young people in terms of value in use. On the other hand, today, the social media is rival to the traditional media, even threatens it. The fact that users in social media can communicate without threshold watchers and the possibility to communicate with different identities/roles has increased the popularity of this medium. The relationship between social media and marketing has revealed a new marketing phenomenon based on the interactive participation of the consumer in the new media. The information and images presented in social media tools shape and diversify consumer behavior and social media marketing. The use of social media tools is increasing rapidly, especially in marketing-oriented activities. How and how a phenomenon is spoken in social media becomes important for organizations. This study consists of two parts. In the first part, new communication technologies, the definition of social media, its features, and its importance in communication will be discussed. In the second part, a questionnaire consisting of closed and open ended questions was applied to the sample of Uşak University Faculty of Communication students and their thoughts about social media which is a new communication environment were analyzed by using frequency analysis and Chi Square analysis method.

Keywords

Social Media, Communication Technologies, Communication Medium, Communication