Artificial Intelligence in Digital Communication: The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Social Media Platforms, Ethical Violations, and Social Policy Recommendations

Abstract

The study aims to examine the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which are becoming an increasingly influential factor in digital communication, in social media environments, to identify the ethical violations arising from this use, and to propose social policy recommendations addressing these ethical violations. In this context, a focus group discussion was conducted with twelve new media and communication students. The interview data were analysed using the thematic analysis method in the MAXQDA programme, and three main themes were identified: AI usage, AI on social media, and ethical and social policy recommendations. In the study, which involved 132 codings, findings were reached indicating that AI technologies increase efficiency through rapid access and timeliness, and while offering opportunities for use as teaching materials, they also lead to a loss of creativity, employment problems, and a digital divide. Furthermore, ethical violations have been identified, including that AI increases the production of manipulative content and its illegal use, leading to breaches of data privacy and copyright infringement, as well as undermining trust and credibility. Findings regarding the development of cooperation to prevent these ethical violations, the regulation of legal and controlled use, the creation of new employment opportunities, and the provision of professional and social education in this direction have been presented as a social policy proposal. The necessity of teaching digital media literacy in all educational institutions every year has been particularly emphasised. The study is significant in terms of identifying ethical violations arising from the use of artificial intelligence on social media, proposing social policy recommendations to address these violations, and providing policymakers with a data repository in this field. Within the context of research, it is recommended that developments in this area be monitored and that improvement efforts and protective policies for ethical tenders be developed in light of current data.

Keywords

• New Media and Communication
• Digital Communication
• Artificial İntelligence
• Social Media
• Ethics
• Social Policy

Dijital İletişimde Yapay Zekâ: Sosyal Medya Ortamlarında Yapay Zekâ kullanımı, Etik İhlaller ve Sosyal Politika Önerisi

Abstract

Çalışma, dijital iletişimde giderek etkin bir faktör hâline gelen yapay zekâ (YZ) teknolojilerinin sosyal medya ortamlarında kullanımını, bu kullanımdan kaynaklanan etik ihlallerin tespitini ve bu etik ihlallere yönelik sosyal politika önerisi sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda on iki yeni medya ve iletişim bölümü öğrencisi ile odak grup görüşmesi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Görüşme verileri MAXQDA programında tematik analiz yöntemiyle çözümlenerek YZ Kullanımı, sosyal medyada YZ ve Etik ile sosyal politika önerisi olmak üzere üç ana tema belirlenmiştir. 132 kodlamanın yapıldığı çalışmada YZ teknolojilerinin hızlı erişim ve güncellik ile verimliliği artırdığı, ders materyali olarak kullanılması noktasında fırsatlar sunmasıyla birlikte yaratıcılığın kaybedilmesine, istihdam problemlerine ve dijital uçuruma neden olduğuna dair bulgulara ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca YZ’nin manipülatif içerik üretimini ve yasa dışı kullanımı artırdığı, veri gizliliği ve telif hakkı ihlaline, güven ve doğruluğun sorgulanmasına neden olduğuna dair etik ihlaller tespit edilmiştir. Bu etik ihlallerin önlenmesine yönelik iş birliğinin geliştirilmesi, hukuksal ve kontrollü kullanımın düzenlenmesi, yeni istihdam alanlarının oluşturulması ve bu yönde mesleki ve toplumsal eğitimin verilmesi yönünde bulgular sosyal politika önerisi olarak sunulmuştur. Dijital medya okuryazarlığı dersinin bütün eğitim kurumlarında her yıl verilmesi gerekliliği özellikle vurgulanmıştır. Çalışma, sosyal medyada yapay zekâ kullanımından kaynaklı etik ihlallerin tespiti, bu ihlallere yönelik sosyal politika önerisi sunması ve politika yapıcılara bu alanda veri havuzu oluşturması açısından önemlidir. Araştırma bağlamında bu alana yönelik gelişmelerin takip edilerek güncel veriler ışığında iyileştirme çalışmalarının ve etik ihlallere yönelik koruyucu politikaların geliştirilmesi öneri olarak sunulmaktadır.

Keywords

• Yeni Medya ve İletişim
• Dijital İletişim
• Yapay Zekâ
• Sosyal Medya
• Etik
• Sosyal Politika

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