ARUCAD Organized a Seminar on Social Media and Self-Perception for Anafartalar High School Students

Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) held two different seminars for students of Anafartalar High School in order to draw attention to young people’s experiences in the digital world.

The seminars were delivered by Dr. Ahmet İyici, a faculty member of ARUCAD’s Department of New Media and Communication, and Simge Altınkök Koçar, Clinical Psychologist at the Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center. The seminars addressed the effects of social media use on individuals from different perspectives.

In the seminar titled “Conscious Use of Social Media,” conducted by Dr. Ahmet İyici, topics such as the effects of the digital age on young people, social media addiction, digital footprints, misinformation, cyberbullying, and online safety were discussed. Within the scope of the seminar, students were informed about protecting personal privacy on social media, methods of accessing reliable information, and the importance of acting consciously against risks that may be encountered in digital environments.

In her presentation titled “Filtered Self,” Clinical Psychologist Simge Altınkök Koçar emphasized the effects of social media on self-perception and psychological well-being. Koçar highlighted that content shared on social media mostly presents a “selected” and filtered reality, and shared with students the psychological effects of evaluating themselves through likes, follower counts, and digital feedback. The presentation also addressed topics such as social comparison, cyberbullying, fear of exclusion, and self-worth perception, supported by scientific research.

The seminars aimed to help students use the digital world more consciously, question their relationship with social media, and develop psychological resilience in online environments.

ARUCAD continues to carry out initiatives that support young people not only academically, but also in developing digital awareness, psychological well-being, and media literacy.