With the spread of social media, authorship also came into contact with digital media. Assoc states that people have found new ways to express themselves as social media channels have become very popular. Dr Gül Esra Atalay argues that the grammar rules are not followed and that especially the young people do not care about the spelling rules. Atalay stressed that the new media has changed reading and writing habits and drew attention to the fact that concepts such as e-reading or screen reading are now being used.

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Communication, Department of Journalism Assoc. Dr Gül Esra Atalay shared her vision of authorship, which has been changed by social media.

Writing has become a way of presenting yourself.

With the spread of social media, Assoc. Dr Gül Esra Atalay said: “With the popularity of social media channels in recent years, people have found new ways to express themselves and present themselves. Therefore, writing in these media has also become a way of presenting one’s self.” said.

A participatory culture has been created in social media

associate Dr Gül Esra Atalay said that digital texts are not singular and independent structures like classical texts, but are collages that are constantly changing, prone to deterioration, innovation and change because of the way they are made.

“Due to the sharing economy of the internet and social media, it is not possible to treat poetry or other literary genres independently of the communities and platforms that create and read them. A ‘participatory culture’ has emerged with the spread of the content shared on social media channels. Social media users have evolved from passive consumers who receive pre-formed messages in previous mass media, such as in books, to an active position contributing to and shaping media content with their shares, comments, and likes. That’s why we participate in social media channels as both readers and writers.”

Young people don’t care about spelling rules

associate states that the language that is widely used, accepted and normal in social media is also used in publications that claim to be literature. Dr Gül Esra Atalay said: “When we look at the content shared on social media, we see that the classic rules of the written language are ignored, ignored and that punctuation or grammar rules are not followed. Especially young people think that these rules are not important when they write on social media. In the previous years, we conducted a study at the University of Üsküdar comparing high school and university students on “nlabel”, that is, compliance with the rules of conduct on the Internet, and the results of this study showed that young people think that the rules of writing on social media are unimportant.” said.

Author-reader interaction made easy

Noting that a new type of writer has emerged with digital technologies and new media, Assoc. Dr Gül Esra Atalay said: “This author is a writer who can reflect in his work the interaction he has established with the reader, updating his work with the comments and responses he receives from the reader. The new media have changed reading habits. Concepts such as e-reading or screen reading began to be used. It is now possible to read a book on the screen instead of a printed book, and this is becoming more common. The interaction between writer and reader in new media has now become much easier.” he said.

Social media language is based on stereotypes

Emphasizing that it is easier for new writers to make their voices heard and even freely write and deliver their works to the masses, Assoc. Dr Gül Esra Atalay said: “It is economically beneficial to write and distribute books on free platforms. Today, books written in the language of social media, without depth and care, fill bookstore shelves. Social media channels have a unique structure and an appropriate language use culture. This is a culture fueled by oral culture rather than written culture, and so the issues that are very important in traditional writing, such as grammar and spelling rules, become unimportant. Social media language is based on clichés, irregularities and repetitions. The popularity and intensive use of social media means that the habits here also influence the books.” said.

New media publisher and editor removed from process

Claiming that anyone can write and the value of the written text is determined by the reader, Assoc. Dr Gül Esra Atalay said: “New media outlets in particular removed decision-makers such as publishers and editors from the process, allowing individuals to write freely as they wished. Therefore, anyone who wants to can define himself as an ‘author’. The other side of the question is whether the written texts get many readers.” used the sentences.

The lyrics are far from strict

associate argues that digital platforms offer a world of possibilities where poems, stories and novels can be visualized and constructed transmedia in relation to different forms. Dr Gül Esra Atalay said: “Platforms like Wattpad are digital places where this experience is lived. These are also social media channels. Both stories and books can be written and those that are written can be read. These platforms can also have a democratizing role in publishing activities by removing traditional publishers’ dominance over the author and their role as gatekeepers. But these texts, which do not go through any editorial process, are far from the accuracy, care and necessities of literature.” he said.

There will be good writers who create their own style.

associate Dr Gül Esra Atalay said that books were also published after they were published on Wattpad, which caught the attention of publishers, and concluded her words as follows:

“Their target audience is young people. It appeals to a particular generation. We can say that they are the product of a generation that was born in the digital age and grew up with digital media and the social media culture. These texts reflect the language and style of social media and consist of texts suitable for easy consumption. On the other hand, this is a generational issue. Young people always reject the old forms and bring their own style. Therefore, there will certainly be good writers of this generation who reflect their own style.”