User approaches to diaspora narratives in digital media: An examination of the DiasporaTürk case

This study examines how narratives about the Turkish diaspora in Europe are interpreted by users on digital platforms, focusing on user comments on posts. Within the scope of the research, user comments on the posts made of the “DiasporaTürk” account on the X platform between January 2024 and December 2025 were examined. Of these comments, 986 user comments reflecting approaches to migration and diaspora narratives were included in the analysis unit in accordance with the research objective. The study utilized qualitative content analysis and the data were analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis technique. The findings indicate that user comments concentrate around narratives of gurbet and emotional memory, generational experience, perceptions of otherness, and struggles and resilience in the diaspora. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that while the first generation was idealized as a foundational figure based on sacrifice and labor, subsequent generations were discussed within the framework of belonging tensions. It was concluded that user interactions transcend the phenomenon of diaspora beyond individual memories, transforming it into the production of shared meaning and collective memory in the digital environment.