Social Media Strategies of The European Union Bodies: A Comparison With Turkey's Experience

Year 2016, Volume: 15 Issue: 4, 1119 - 1130, 28.10.2016

Fatih Çömlekçi , Serhat Güney

https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.265501

Cited By: 2

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explain and
bring forward social media strategies of the European Union bodies and compare with
the Turkish experience in terms of Turkey’s accession process to the EU.
Social media is critical for governments and institutions regarding informing
citizens and allowing youth involvement in politics. In this context,
strengths and weaknesses of social media strategies (perspectives) of EU and
Turkish government will be brought into question. Documents published by EU
and Turkey on social media, statements of politicians and social media experts,
examples of social media campaigns and quantitative data on EU social media accounts
will be the main resources of this research. The main finding is that social
media can enhance citizen involvement/participation in politics and improve
democracy if strategies would be based on not just informing but interacting
with citizens. As long as those
strategies of governments/institutions include professionalism, inventiveness,
and transparency.

Keywords

Social media, European Union, Turkey-AB relations, Institutional media strategies

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