Educational Practices of Syrians in Türkiye on Facebook and the Formation of a Digital Diaspora: A Netnographic Study

This study focuses on the educational activities carried out by Syrians in Türkiye in the digital environment, within the theoretical framework of “diasporic education.” Diasporic education, which refers to the transmission of language, history, and cultural values that migrants reside outside their homeland and try to preserve and pass on to subsequent generations in the host country through formal and informal means, brings members together around shared values. However, due to both financial constraints and sociological reasons in Türkiye, these activities, which mostly take place in the digital sphere, also necessitate consideration of the “digital diaspora” debate among Syrians. At this point, groups established through Facebook's sharing network enable scattered migrants to communicate and interact, unite around fundamental values, and make efforts to preserve their shared identity codes and sense of belonging in a more economical and easier way. Based on data obtained from these Facebook groups, the study claims that Syria is conveyed among migrants on a nostalgic basis and that the values of the homeland are presented in an idealized manner. To such an extent that religious, cultural, historical, or language teaching activities by different groups aim to provide collective identity and belonging while also ensuring that the perception of the homeland is kept alive in the target audience. In this context, educational activities targeting different groups are carried out through decentralized and independent Facebook groups. The data collected through a netnographic method between April and December 2025 were analyzed within a sociological framework