In this era of accelerated digitalization, how do you think the meaning of communication has changed?
In my view, the essence of communication hasn’t radically changed; rather, it has taken on new forms and found new spaces to inhabit. It still performs its fundamental functions—exchanging emotions, thoughts, information, and news between individuals. However, this exchange now takes place more frequently through digital platforms and in varied formats.
This transformation has both positive and problematic aspects. On the one hand, there’s a speed and accessibility that brings distant places closer and removes the boundaries of time and space. We can communicate with someone on the other side of the world within seconds. That is truly valuable.
On the other hand, I believe communication has become somewhat confined to virtual spaces. Face-to-face interaction has been replaced by texts, emojis, and visuals. Especially in written communication, there’s a kind of semantic depletion. Sentences that used to be constructed with care and attention have given way to abbreviations and superficial expressions. What we call phonetic degradation has now become a part of everyday language.
Today, visuality is one of the most dominant elements of communication. Social media has created a new visual culture in this sense. For brands, this has brought about the necessity to “create more meaning with fewer words.” Meaning still matters, but the tools, forms, and tones that carry it have changed.
In conclusion, while the core of communication remains the same, its form, rhythm, and mediums have changed. In this new landscape, it is up to us to maintain balance, preserve meaning, and communicate with care.
How are new media platforms transforming users’ perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors?
New media platforms are no longer just communication tools; they have become powerful structures that shape individuals’ ways of thinking, perceiving the world, and expressing themselves. It’s not only about accessing information anymore; it’s directly related to how that information is presented, filtered, and encountered by individuals.
Today, perceptions are shaped by algorithms. Users are directed according to their own interests, which creates digital echo chambers. Constant exposure to similar content without encountering different ideas can limit intellectual diversity, directly influencing one’s worldview.
Attitudes are also affected, because new media not only provides content but also dictates how to interact with it. Tools like likes, comments, and shares influence what people consider “valuable” or “relevant.” This, in turn, transforms users’ attitudes, often without their awareness.
When it comes to behaviors, reactions have become nearly automatic, turning into reflexes that are made without thinking. Sharing news without reading, commenting based only on the headline, or posting content that doesn’t reflect one’s true opinion just to keep up with popularity trends is widespread. Conversely, some share things they don’t actually support just for social acceptance or to avoid exclusion. In these cases, individuals act according to social or digital norms rather than their own ideas.
In short, while new media platforms transform users into active content producers, their algorithms, design formats, and interaction models also shape our perceptions, change our attitudes, and reconstruct our behavior patterns.
Which topics do you think are still lacking in the academic field of digital communication?
The digital world is like a relentlessly advancing journey… Even as I write this text, new technologies are being developed in “digital villages” around the globe, and new forms of communication are being born. However, academic studies often lag behind these rapid transformations. This reminds us that we need deeper and more up-to-date approaches.
For instance, while we talk about the impact of AI on communication processes, we haven’t yet developed comprehensive, transparent, and critical theoretical frameworks about how algorithms influence user behavior. Similarly, digital activism is undergoing a major transformation.
Whereas slogans were once shouted in public squares, today they spread with a single click. But we still lack clear answers to questions like: how effective or genuine are new forms of participation—like slacktivism or bot-supported campaigns?
And then there’s the silence we often ignore: people who intentionally distance themselves from digital platforms, who prefer to remain mere observers, or who consume without producing content… These behaviors also create new forms of communication. I believe academia is a bit late in interpreting this “digital silence.”
Furthermore, concepts such as content creation, the influencer economy, digital labor, and invisible labor deserve much more discussion within communication studies. Digital platforms are no longer just spaces for socializing, but arenas for labor and identity production.
All of these topics show that digital communication studies must keep pace with both rapidly evolving technology and changing social structures. We should not only follow this change, but also create theoretical frameworks that give it meaning.
Artificial Intelligence and Communication
What was the most striking finding you discussed in your book chapter “Artificial Intelligence and Communication”?
Perhaps the most striking finding was that AI has become not just a technology, but also a narrator. In this study, which I specifically worked on the example of Patagonia, I observed how brands are now using artificial intelligence not only to sell products but also to establish a value narrative. I was impressed to see how AI-powered campaigns can simplify complex concepts like sustainability into personalized narratives.
Especially in interactions with consumers with high environmental awareness, the ability of artificial intelligence to analyze user behavior and present them with the right message at the right time has shown that communication is not a linear transmission but a constantly evolving interaction network. In other words, artificial intelligence reshapes not only “what” we say, but also “how” we say it.
This finding revealed that brands are adopting a more strategic and data-driven approach to their activism-focused communications. However, this is also an area that needs to be discussed ethically, because these personalized messages that touch emotions also have the power to direct individuals’ perceptions.
Do you think that artificial intelligence will change academic communication and writing in the future?
I think AI has already begun to change academic communication and writing styles. When we look at it today, there are many academic projects, reports and texts created with AI tools. But the most important point here is that the human brain must remain at the center of this process. In other words, when using AI, the individual should use commands that they have filtered through their own thoughts; It should produce without leaving itself completely under the guidance of artificial intelligence, while preserving its originality. Otherwise, the text will just become a pile of information and lose its academic spirit.
Especially AI-supported tools such as Elicit, Research Rabbit, Semantic Scholar, Scite.ai, Connected Papers provide great convenience when doing literature review. Such tools offer great advantages in terms of mapping the resources related to the subject, seeing the connections, and analyzing the author relationships. However, the structure, language, and original approach of the resulting content should still belong to the researcher. So yes, artificial intelligence is enabling a major transformation, but it is still human intelligence and intuition that will determine the direction of this transformation.
How should ethical boundaries be maintained in AI-enabled content production?
Ethical boundaries can be maintained through transparency, originality, avoiding plagiarism, and proper sourcing. Artificial intelligence should be used as a tool in this process, but decision-making and ethical responsibility should always belong to humans.
Sustainability and Media
How do you establish the relationship between the concept of sustainability and the media?
The relationship between the concept of sustainability and the media has a very deep connection today. Since media is a tool that has the power to influence societies, it plays an important role in raising awareness about sustainability and creating social change.
The media has the power to create awareness in environmental, social and economic dimensions by using sustainability as a communication tool. While environmental sustainability is conveyed to large masses through media outlets, social sustainability enables the creation of public opinion on issues such as social equality, rights and justice through the media. The media can increase the level of awareness and action in this area by announcing policies, practices and achievements related to sustainability to the world.
Digital media and social media platforms in particular are very powerful tools that can be used to rapidly spread sustainability movements. Rapidly spreading digital content can inform people about topics such as recycling, saving energy, using environmentally friendly products, and fair trade. In addition, social media campaigns and interactive content can help people change their individual actions. In this respect, the media can be considered not only a source of information for sustainability, but also a tool for social change.
At the same time, the media also serves the function of monitoring, auditing and publicising the sustainability practices of brands and companies. For example, media news about a company’s environmentally friendly practices can have a direct impact on the reputation of that company. This encourages companies to be more socially responsible and environmentally conscious.
In conclusion, media is one of the most powerful factors shaping societies and businesses towards a sustainable world.
What is the responsibility of media producers to increase the environmental awareness of digital media consumers?
In the digital media world, media producers have a great responsibility to increase environmental awareness. It is important to provide educational content that will raise people’s awareness about the environment. For example, it can be useful to prepare understandable and eye-catching content that explains topics such as recycling and energy saving. In addition, the media should set an example for people by highlighting companies that support environmentally friendly projects or by carrying out social responsibility projects.
The power of visuals is great, especially in digital media. It is important to convey strong messages with impressive visuals and make content quickly shareable. In addition, the media should also question the sustainability claims of brands in the capitalist world. In other words, are they really benefiting the environment or are they just “greenwashing”? The media should be transparent and honest on this issue.
And of course, media producers need to bring environmental awareness to their own lives first. They can make their work more sincere by exhibiting environmentally friendly behaviors in their own lives. This will also be a strong example to society and environmental awareness can be spread more effectively. The impact of visuals, the power of creative projects and sincerity are really important in this process. In this way, people can interact more and become more sensitive to the issue.
Visual Analysis and Layers of Meaning
In your opinion, what kind of a field of expression does visual culture create in digital media?
Each medium has its own unique narrative language, but digital media is really more of a product of visual culture. This culture creates a very strong narrative field in digital media. Especially in an environment where visuals are shared rapidly and eye-catching content comes to the forefront, visuals no longer only convey information, but also create a way of thinking and social perception. Visuals have become the fastest and most effective way of narration. People can gain meaning in a much shorter time by watching a photo, an infographic or a short video clip.
In addition, digital platforms allow visual content to be much more inclusive and diverse. Each individual can create their own visual language, and this can provide more originality and diversity in a social sense.
As a result, visual culture has become central to narrative in digital media. People now tell stories not only with written words but also with images, and this makes media more interactive and understandable, depending on the context. On the other hand, people’s tolerance has become very short and even 10 seconds can sometimes seem like too much. There is a flow in the digital environment; Content that does not immediately attract attention goes away quickly. Transitions made with finger movements on social media, fast movements such as video cuts are all part of this visual language. Visual production has become very valuable and important because the dominance of visuals to convey a message has now come to the fore. Images have the power to convey meaning faster, but this can sometimes require a deeper reading.
How should an academic or ethical framework be established on the manipulative effect of images?
When establishing an academic or ethical framework on the manipulative effect of images, it is necessary to consider both the meaning carried by the image and how this meaning is shaped in the social context. Digital media increases the power of images in rapid and widespread interaction; however, this power is not always used correctly and ethically. In order to understand the manipulative effect of images, it is important to remember McLuhan’s approach to representation. Images can sometimes lead the viewer to create a false perception by using selective representations instead of reflecting the truth. At this point, it should be emphasized that images should be represented accurately and honestly.
Another important issue is the power of visuals to manipulate social perception. Especially in advertisements and media content, visuals can encourage a certain behavior and can sometimes be used in a way that can distort the truth. In this case, the ethical responsibilities of content producers come into play. Methods such as the framing effect can change the perception of the viewer by presenting an event or situation from a certain perspective. For example, let’s remember the famous soldier image presented by journalists. You can immediately notice manipulations such as showing a war or conflict as “heroic” or “brutal”. For those who don’t know or don’t remember, you can find it on the internet using the technology at your fingertips!
Media literacy plays an important role in this regard. People should be able to approach content with a critical eye by understanding the power and manipulative effects of visuals. As a result, transparency, accuracy and social responsibility awareness should be taken to reduce the manipulative effects of visuals. Increasing media literacy will also support this process and encourage the correct and ethical use of visuals.
Academia, Writing, and Social Impact
How do you balance your identity as an academic and your identity as a writer?
I think both roles support and complement each other. In my academic studies, I have the responsibility to produce information and conduct in-depth analysis; while writing aims to convey this information to a wider audience and increase its social impact. I focus on providing benefit to people in both areas. While academic texts generally include more original and in-depth topics, writing offers the opportunity to address a wider audience. Both identities carry social responsibility; while I seek the truth in my academic studies, I try to tell these truths in a more accessible and effective way through writing. I base the balance between these two identities on the aim of contributing to humanity while producing and sharing my thoughts. I feel responsible for providing benefit to society. Here, my sectoral experiences in media, advertising, corporate communication and brand management also enlighten me.
What kind of relationship do you see between content creation and the delivery of academic knowledge to the public?
Academic knowledge is often shared within a narrow circle, with a specific language and jargon; This can often make it difficult to make information accessible to those outside of academic circles. However, content creation offers the opportunity to convey this knowledge to a wider audience, in a different language and in a more understandable way. Content creation acts as a bridge that enables academic knowledge to meet society in a more accessible, understandable and effective way. In this context, content creation facilitates the access of academic knowledge to the public, while also accelerating access to knowledge for different segments of society.
How do you evaluate the social impact of the content you write on the Dijitaliyidir platform?
Dijitaliyidir is a community that focuses on the positive aspects of the digital world and is founded with industry professionals. I usually share my news on the platform focusing on important topics such as science, art, environment, sustainability and artificial intelligence. However, I also enjoy compiling and announcing news that interests me and can attract people’s attention. With the news we select from the world press, we aim to create a more conscious society in the digital world.
I find the social impact of the content I write very valuable in terms of providing information and creating awareness. Since digital media is a rapidly spreading and interactive medium, my content can be effective in creating awareness about social problems, digital transformation and sustainability. In addition, the content is not limited to text; we can reach wider audiences thanks to visuals, videos and interactive elements. Receiving a quick response on social media and online platforms helps our content create a positive impact on the social level.
As a result, the content I write on the Dijitaliyidir platform plays an important role in raising people’s awareness, allowing them to access information more easily and taking action for social change. I believe that in order for this impact to reach the highest level, the content must be prepared accurately, reliably and with a sense of social responsibility.
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