The Role of Social Media in Shaping Perceptions during Democratic Elections

Year 2024, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 247 - 269, 31.12.2024

Murat Şengöz

Abstract

In recent years, social media platforms have played a decisive role in sharing information and forming public opinion. This paper comprehensively examines the impact of social media on perception management in democratic elections. It details how social media influences and shapes voter perceptions through information dissemination, targeted advertising, bots, and fake accounts. The paper highlights the effects of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the spread of disinformation during the Brexit process on voter behavior. It evaluates how social media can undermine trust in democratic processes and identifies factors that threaten their proper functioning. Additionally, the role of social media in information dissemination and combating disinformation is explored, with a discussion of the challenges encountered in these areas. Recommendations are offered for future elections, including enhancing social media platform transparency, effectively combating disinformation, and strengthening media literacy. These recommendations aim to develop strategic approaches for conducting democratic processes in a fairer and more reliable manner.

Keywords

Perception Management, Democratic Elections, Disinformation, Voter Behavior

Sosyal Medyanın Demokratik Seçimlerde Algı Yönetimi Üzerindeki Rolü

Abstract

Son yıllarda sosyal medya platformları, bilgi paylaşımı ve kamuoyu oluşturma konularında belirleyici bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu makale, sosyal medyanın demokratik seçimlerde algı yönetimi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Sosyal medyanın bilgi yayılımı, hedefli reklamlar, botlar ve sahte hesaplar aracılığıyla seçmen algılarını nasıl etkilediği ve şekillendirdiği detaylı olarak ele alınacaktır. Özellikle Cambridge Analytica skandalı ve Brexit sürecinde yayılan dezenformasyonun seçmen davranışları üzerindeki etkileri vurgulanacaktır. Makale, sosyal medyanın demokratik süreçlere olan güveni nasıl sarsabileceğini ve bu süreçlerin sağlıklı işleyişini tehdit eden faktörleri değerlendirecektir. Ayrıca, sosyal medyanın bilgi yayılımı ve dezenformasyonla mücadeledeki rolü incelenecek ve bu alanlarda karşılaşılan zorluklar tartışılacaktır. Gelecekteki seçimler için sosyal medya platformlarının şeffaflığını artırma, dezenformasyonla etkili bir şekilde mücadele etme ve medya okuryazarlığını güçlendirme konularında öneriler sunulacaktır. Bu öneriler, demokratik süreçlerin daha adil ve güvenilir bir şekilde yürütülmesi için stratejik yaklaşımlar geliştirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

Algı Yönetimi, Demokratik Seçimler, Dezenformasyon, Seçmen Davranışları

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