Technology Culture and Digital Minimalism: An Analysis of Generation Z

Esra Şahin; Oya Morva

Makale detayları

Technology Culture and Digital Minimalism: An Analysis of Generation Z

Yazarlar:

Esra Şahin | Oya Morva

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kültürel çalışmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 24, pp.21-42

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001322324

pISSN:

2822-6623

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 When defining culture as a particular way of life, the technology used has always directly impacted the way of life of the period to which it belongs. Technology has never been as integrated into culture as it is today. Digital technology, with its scope and pervasiveness, is an essential element in all practices in the daily life routine of an ordinary person. The way to exist in social life today depends on mastering the skills for using various digital technologies. The existence of such a social structure that demands and encourages the use of current technology at all levels creates a consciousness that suggests its use to be inevitable. On the other hand, the existence of alternative forms of use in the face of this encompassing nature of technology also needs to be mentioned. This study discusses the concept of digital minimalism, which is considered an alternative form of technology use, and addresses the questions of the reasons why individuals belonging to Generation Z in Türkiye turn to digital minimalism and how they use digital technology within this framework. In line with this, the study conducts in-depth interviews with 20 people 10 males, 10 females who identify themselves as digital minimalists and analyzes the obtained data using the qualitative content analysis method. As a result, the research observes digital minimalism to have been evaluated and adopted as an alternative to the existing widespread use of technology and found it to include such practices as operating a self-control mechanism regarding the duration and intensity of technology usage, using purpose-oriented platforms, and developing different usage forms regarding the relevant technology or applications characteristics.

 When defining culture as a particular way of life, the technology used has always directly impacted the way of life of the period to which it belongs. Technology has never been as integrated into culture as it is today. Digital technology, with its scope and pervasiveness, is an essential element in all practices in the daily life routine of an ordinary person. The way to exist in social life today depends on mastering the skills for using various digital technologies. The existence of such a social structure that demands and encourages the use of current technology at all levels creates a consciousness that suggests its use to be inevitable. On the other hand, the existence of alternative forms of use in the face of this encompassing nature of technology also needs to be mentioned. This study discusses the concept of digital minimalism, which is considered an alternative form of technology use, and addresses the questions of the reasons why individuals belonging to Generation Z in Türkiye turn to digital minimalism and how they use digital technology within this framework. In line with this, the study conducts in-depth interviews with 20 people 10 males, 10 females who identify themselves as digital minimalists and analyzes the obtained data using the qualitative content analysis method. As a result, the research observes digital minimalism to have been evaluated and adopted as an alternative to the existing widespread use of technology and found it to include such practices as operating a self-control mechanism regarding the duration and intensity of technology usage, using purpose-oriented platforms, and developing different usage forms regarding the relevant technology or applications characteristics.

 When defining culture as a particular way of life, the technology used has always directly impacted the way of life of the period to which it belongs. Technology has never been as integrated into culture as it is today. Digital technology, with its scope and pervasiveness, is an essential element in all practices in the daily life routine of an ordinary person. The way to exist in social life today depends on mastering the skills for using various digital technologies. The existence of such a social structure that demands and encourages the use of current technology at all levels creates a consciousness that suggests its use to be inevitable. On the other hand, the existence of alternative forms of use in the face of this encompassing nature of technology also needs to be mentioned. This study discusses the concept of digital minimalism, which is considered an alternative form of technology use, and addresses the questions of the reasons why individuals belonging to Generation Z in Türkiye turn to digital minimalism and how they use digital technology within this framework. In line with this, the study conducts in-depth interviews with 20 people 10 males, 10 females who identify themselves as digital minimalists and analyzes the obtained data using the qualitative content analysis method. As a result, the research observes digital minimalism to have been evaluated and adopted as an alternative to the existing widespread use of technology and found it to include such practices as operating a self-control mechanism regarding the duration and intensity of technology usage, using purpose-oriented platforms, and developing different usage forms regarding the relevant technology or applications characteristics.

 Kültürü belirli bir yaşam biçimi olarak tanımladığımızda, kullanılan teknoloji, ait olduğu dönemin kültürü üzerinde her zaman doğrudan bir etkiye sahip olmuştur. Ancak tarihin hiçbir döneminde teknoloji, kültüre, günümüzde olduğu kadar entegre olmamıştır. Bugün dijital teknoloji, kapsamı ve yaygınlığı ile sıradan bir insanın gündelik hayat rutinindeki tüm pratiklerde asli unsurdur. Öyle ki, toplumsal hayatta var olabilmenin yolu çeşitli dijital teknolojileri kullanma becerilerine hakimiyetten geçer. Aktüel teknolojinin kullanımını her düzeyde talep ve teşvik eden böylesi bir toplumsal yapı, onu kullanmayı neredeyse kaçınılmaz kılmaktadır. Öte yandan, teknolojinin bu kuşatıcılığı karşısında alternatif kullanım biçimlerinin varlığından da söz etmek gerekir. Bu çalışma, sözü edilen alternatif kullanımlardan dijital minimalizme odaklanarak, Türkiyede Z Kuşağına mensup bireylerin hangi nedenlerle dijital minimalizme yöneldikleri ve dijital teknolojiyi nasıl kullandıkları sorularına yanıt aramaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, kendini dijital minimalist olarak tanımlayan 20 kişi 10 kadın ve 10 erkek ile derinlemesine görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiş, elde edilen veriler niteliksel içerik analizi yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda dijital minimalizmin, teknolojinin var olan yaygın kullanım biçimine alternatif olarak değerlendirilip benimsendiği gözlemlenmiştir. Kullanıcıların otokontrol mekanizmalarını da devreye sokarak, teknoloji kullanımlarını farklılaştırdıkları ve sınırladıkları bulgulanmıştır.

Makale detayları

Technology Culture and Digital Minimalism: An Analysis of Generation Z

Yazarlar:

Esra Şahin | Oya Morva

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kültürel çalışmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 24, pp.21-42

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001322324

pISSN:

2822-6623

digital minimalism

digital culture

technology culture

digital age

Generation ZDijital minimalizm

Dijital kültür

Teknoloji kültürü

Dijital çağ

Z kuşağı

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Esra Şahin | Oya Morva

Yayıncı: Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar: Kültürel çalışmalar (Diğer)

Dergi: 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 24, pp.21-42

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 5/2024

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001322324

pISSN: 2822-6623

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Esra Şahin | Oya Morva

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kültürel çalışmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 24, pp.21-42

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001322324

pISSN:

2822-6623