New Media and Digital Paranoia

Abstract

New media includes many spaces in the internet environment including social media, news media, shopping sites, official and private institution/organization applications. Users make their daily lives more manageable in terms of time and space while benefitting from the specified new media platforms/tools whereby they may also consciously or unconsciously get some conditions. Currently, there exists a contemporary condition called 'digital paranoia' that people can experience when using new media platforms and tools. Digital paranoia, which refers to a form of extreme skepticism regarding new media platforms and tools, is based on different concerns and anxieties such as being spied on, wired, and controlled. This study, which is written based on a literature review, focuses on defining the concept of digital paranoia. Additionally, new media and some conditions occurring due to new media are also analyzed in the study. This study aims to raise awareness of digital paranoia and offer some constructive suggestions to new media users.