'YouTube' as a Digital Political Tool: A Study on 'Babala TV' 'Mevzular Açık Mikrofon' Program

Öz

With the development of the digital age, the internet, social media networks, and other digital tools have fundamentally transformed political communication, participation processes, and interactions. Within this scope, digital politics encompasses the use of digital technologies by political actors and citizens to achieve political goals and engage in political processes. Digital technologies assist in increasing political awareness, shaping public opinion, making political campaigns interactive, and enhancing political participation. In particular, the internet and social media networks facilitate the reach of politicians, political parties, and civil society organizations to the masses, enabling them to disseminate political messages more easily. They also enable individuals to express their political opinions, engage in discussions on different perspectives, form communities with like-minded individuals, and voice demands for societal change. This research aims to examine the Mevzular Açık Mikrofon program on the Babala TV channel on YouTube within the framework of the digitalization of politics and contribute to the literature. YouTube is a widely used video-sharing platform worldwide, serving as an alternative to traditional television channels, hosting various channels and programs, and offering interactive features. In this context, a qualitative content analysis method was employed in the study, and a total of 13 videos and 650 comments were subjected to coding using the MAXQDA software program. Based on the obtained data, it can be concluded that the comments made by YouTube users regarding the Mevzular Açık Mikrofon program, which presents a new political tool and interaction opportunity, are generally positive towards the participating guests and the program itself. However, criticisms predominantly arise concerning the audience and journalists participating in the program. Considering the interaction rates of the program’s videos and user comments, YouTube is believed to continue being a widely accepted digital political platform and interaction tool by both political actors and citizens.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• digital politics
• YouTube
• social media
• content analysis
• MAXQDA

Dijital Siyaset Aracı Olarak 'YouTube': 'Babala TV' 'Mevzular Açık Mikrofon' Programına Yönelik Bir Araştırma

Öz

Dijital çağın gelişimiyle birlikte internet, sosyal medya ağları ve diğer dijital araçlar siyasal iletişimi, katılım süreçlerini ve etkileşimi kökten değiştirmiştir. Bu kapsamda dijital siyaset, siyasi aktörlerin ve vatandaşların dijital teknolojileri kullanarak siyasi amaçlara ulaşmalarını ve siyasi süreçlere katılmalarını içermektedir. Dijital teknolojiler siyasi bilinci artırmaya, kamuoyu oluşturmaya, siyasi kampanyaları etkileşimli hale getirmeye ve siyasi katılımı artırmaya yardımcı olmaktadır. Özellikle internet ve sosyal medya ağları, siyasetçilerin yanı sıra siyasi partilerin ve sivil toplum örgütlerinin kitlelere ulaşmasını ve siyasi mesajlarını yaymasını kolaylaştırmaktadır. Aynı zamanda, bireylerin siyasi konulardaki fikirlerini ifade etmelerini, farklı görüşleri tartışmalarını, kendileri gibi düşünen kişilerle topluluk oluşturmalarını ve toplumsal değişim taleplerini dile getirmelerini sağlamaktadır. Bu araştırma, YouTube’da yer alan Babala Tv adlı kanaldaki Mevzular Açık Mikrofon programını, siyasetin dijitalleşmesi çerçevesinde incelemeyi ve literatüre katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. YouTube, geleneksel televizyon kanallarına bir alternatif konumunda çeşitli kanal ve programların yer aldığı ve etkileşim sunması özelliği ile dünya çapında yaygın olarak kullanılan bir video paylaşım platformudur. Bu kapsamda, araştırmada nitel içerik analizi yöntemi kullanılmış ve toplamda 13 video ve 650 yoruma ilişkin veriler, MAXQDA yazılım programı ile kodlamaya tabi tutulmuştur. Elde edilen verilere göre, yeni bir siyaset aracı ve etkileşim imkânı sunan Mevzular Açık Mikrofon programına ilişkin YouTube kullanıcıları tarafından yapılan yorumların, genellikle programa katılan konuklar ve programla ilgili olarak olumlu olduğu sonucuna varılmaktadır. Ancak, programa katılan seyircilerle ve gazetecilerle ilgili olarak çoğunlukla eleştirilerin olduğu gözlemlenmektedir. Programla ilgili videoların etkileşim oranları ve kullanıcı yorumları göz önünde bulundurulduğunda ise, YouTube’un hem siyasi aktörler hem de vatandaşlar tarafından kabul gören bir dijital siyaset ve etkileşim aracı olmaya devam edeceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• dijital siyaset
• YouTube
• sosyal medya
• içerik analizi
• MAXQDA

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