The Problem of Freedom of Expression in the Public Sphere of Social Media: Descriptive Analysis of the Echo Chamber Effect

Year 2024, Volume: 33 Issue: 2, 277 - 317, 24.10.2024

Hüseyin Köse , Bahar Balcı Aydoğan

https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2024.33.1438504

Abstract

The echo chamber effect is a phenomenon where people with similar ideas, beliefs, and manners intensify their ideas and thoughts with the pleasure of being approved, whereas people with opposing ideas and beliefs sink into silence. This is one of the biggest barriers to the development of a free and democratic environment for ideas and beliefs, and it is crucial for the democratic perspective on the freedom of expression on social media. This issue is a serious problem because the oppressive view and opinion environment strengthens practices that exclude diversity. This research aimed to descriptively examine tweets in terms of their significant hints provided through the creation of the echo chamber. The hashtag “#SUSyalMedyaYasası” (#Socialmedialaw)-related tweets were selected as the trending topics. Through descriptive analysis, this study also attempted to describe how the echo chamber concept affected and shaped the belief and idea posts on X. According to the analysis’s findings, the new regulation on social media intensified the echo chamber effect by strengthening some predetermined attitudes and beliefs and weakening others by separating the legislation from its context and content.

Keywords

Echo chamber effect, #SUSyalMedyaYasası, freedom of expression, NodeXL

Ethical Statement

Çalışma, etik beyan gerektirmemektedir.

Supporting Institution

-

Thanks

Teşekkürler.

Sosyal Medya Kamusal Alanında İfade Özgürlüğü Problemi: Yankı Fanusu Etkisi Üzerine Betimsel Bir Analiz

Abstract

Yankı fanusu etkisi, benzer fikir, kanaat veya tutumlara sahip kişilerin onanmanın da verdiği hazla kendi fikir ve düşüncelerini pekiştirirken, karşıt görüş, fikir ve kanaatlere sahip kişilerin suskunluğa gömülmeleri olgusudur. Bu durum, düşünce ve kanaat ikliminin özgürce ve demokratik biçimde oluşumu önündeki en ciddi engellerden biri olup, düşünce ve ifade özgürlüğünün sosyal medya kamusal alanındaki demokratik görünümü açısından önemlidir. Konu, baskıcı görüş ve kanaat ortamının farklılığı dışlayıcı pratikleri güçlendirmesi bakımından ciddi bir problemdir. Bu çalışmada, X mecrasından yapılan paylaşımların betimsel analizi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada bu amaçla trend topic olarak “#SUSyalMedyaYasası” hashtagli X paylaşımları seçilmiştir. Çalışmada ayrıca betimsel analiz tekniğiyle yankı fanusu kavramının X ortamındaki kanaat ve düşünce paylaşımlarını etkileme ve şekillendirme süreci betimlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Yapılan analiz sonucunda, yeni sosyal medya yasa düzenlemesinin gerek içeriği gerekse kapsamı bakımından bağlamından koparılarak ön belirlenmiş bazı görüş ve kanaatleri daha da güçlendirdiği ve bu durumun da yankı fanusu etkisini arttırdığı bulgulanmıştır.

Keywords

Yankı odası etkisi, “#SUSyalMedyaYasası, ifade özgürlüğü, NodeXL

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