Proceedings of the 10th International Academic Conference, Vienna

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO POLITICAL INFORMATION

AHMET TARHAN

Abstract:

The developments in knowledge and information technologies provide new opportunities for political corporations and political candidates. They are realizing the potential to give information and build relationships with public using social media. These features gain in importance in fast paced periods like election terms. The social media persents a vast amount of means for information seeking. And among young voters in particular, equipped with means of political information, serve to diffuse political campaign messages to other people. This survey which will be conducted two weeks before the March 30. 2014 local elections among students of the Selcuk University. It will be explored on the grounds of the uses and gratifications approach the motives of university students for using the social media in election periods. In this study will be investigated social media using habits and motives like information/guidanceseeking, social escape, leisure/entertainment, and social utility.

Keywords: social media, political information, young voters, motivations, uses and gratifications.

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