Canadian Social Science
Two Countries, Two Digital Narratives: Social Media Representation of the Turkish Diaspora in the United Kingdom and Canada
Abstract
This study conducts a comparative analysis of Turkish social media representations in the United Kingdom and Canada. By analyzing posts shared with the hashtags #turkish and #turkey between 2023 and 2024, the study investigates how these digital contents reflect the socio-political contexts of both countries and explores the dynamics of positive and negative representations. Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the study examines how migrant identities are digitally represented on social media. The content was thematically categorized under headings such as Global Travel and Lifestyle, Turkish Entertainment Content, Turkish Cuisine and Restaurants, Turkish and Middle Eastern News, Turkish and Middle Eastern Cuisine, Countries and Geography, Travel and Medical Tourism, and Islamic Religious Content. The findings reveal that social media discourses are closely tied to immigration policies, media ecosystems, and social structures in both countries. Specifically, the study underscores how migration policies influence social media content and contribute to the identity construction of diaspora communities. The analysis reveals that in the UK, social media discourses surrounding Turkey and the Turkish diaspora are framed within a more political and critical context. In contrast, in Canada, representations are more positive, focusing on cultural heritage and community solidarity.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/13982
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