Echoes of Division: Social Media, Disinformation, and Emotional Politics in Turkey’s 2023 Elections

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 27 - 52, 31.10.2024

İnci Secem Avcı

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between disinformation, social media algorithms, and emotional discourse during the 2023 presidential elections in Turkey. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), it explores how emotionally charged content in social media posts by two key political figures during this process, namely Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, contributed to political polarization. The findings show that posts with higher emotional engagement received significantly more interactions, reinforcing divisive narratives and echo chambers. This interaction pattern suggests that the nature of the content is crucial in how it is disseminated and discussed online. The findings highlight the role of social media algorithms in amplifying content that elicits emotional responses, thereby deepening political divides and affecting public opinion. The study provides insights into how algorithm-driven amplification influences the broader political landscape.

Keywords

Disinformation, Social Media Algorithms, Emotional Politics, Political Polarization

Bölünmenin Yankıları: Türkiye'de 2023 Seçimlerinde Sosyal Medya, Dezenformasyon ve Duygu Siyaseti

Abstract

Bu çalışma, 2023 Türkiye Cumhurbaşkanlığı seçimlerinde dezenformasyon, sosyal medya algoritmaları ve duygusal söylem arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Eleştirel Söylem Analizi (ESA) kullanılarak, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ve Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu gibi bu süreçteki başlıca iki siyasi figürün sosyal medya paylaşımlarındaki duygusal içeriklerin, siyasi kutuplaşmaya nasıl katkı sağladığı araştırılmaktadır. Bulgular, duygusal açıdan güçlü etkileşimlere sahip paylaşımların, çok daha fazla etkileşim aldığını ve ayrıştırıcı anlatıları ve yankı odalarını güçlendirdiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca bulgular, sosyal medya algoritmalarının duygusal tepkiler uyandıran içerikleri artırarak siyasi bölünmeleri derinleştirme rolünü vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Dezenformasyon, Sosyal Medya Algoritmaları, Duygu Siyaseti, Politik Kutuplaşma

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