Young people whose ideas do not always align with their families seek spaces where they can freely explore and express themselves while avoiding the threat of conflict. Social media platforms provide opportunities for people to come together and share content. However, these platforms are surrounded by security concerns stemming from the intense flow of information and visibility. For young people who have security concerns, encountering individuals with different viewpoints is possible on these platforms, but such encounters are rare and mostly happen among similar-minded individuals. Consequently, young people often seek safe physical gatherings for new encounters. These gatherings typically occur in and around the university campus or at places frequented by university friends.

Şule and Eda discuss the quest of a shared space among young conservatives who identify as such. In one of the interviews, they lament the few venues where young people may meet and bring up a café in Üsküdar opened by conservative youngsters.

Young university students founded the café we visited together as a social gathering and sharing venue; it lacks an owner. Shoe removal is required in a tiny mezzanine dedicated for events including book debates, music performances, and guitar lessons. The café’s contemporary tables and interior design echo those of third-wave coffee shops. Additionally like other third-wave coffee shops, the pricing are reasonable.

Mostly young people who know each other from events and courses attend this spot. Eda says she welcomes a few people while we sit and knows practically everyone that visits here. Şule discusses how young conservatives find great importance in this venue. She says that at other conservative cafés, there have been instances when it was unacceptable for men and women to sit next to each other, occasionally leading to their leaving the café. This also has financial justifications. For instance, the financial status of other young people is not fit for spending much in cafés. Furthermore, it should be noted that one cannot sit for a protracted period with just one coffee. They say this location lets them sit comfortably.

When Şule describes the events that followed the earthquake, she emphasizes the hope for the future and rebuilt faith inspired by unity. The issue of decreasing hope and sense of belonging parallel to the decline in the sense of unity is also evident in the sections of the study dealing with nationalism, unity, and emigration abroad. As the sense of unity diminishes, so does hope for the future, which eliminates young people’s belief that they can effect change, rendering them passive. Şule believes that emotions such as the sense of togetherness experienced after the earthquake trigger the belief among young people that they can create tangible change. According to her, there are no spaces available for young people to experience such types of unity.