POLITICAL ELECTIONS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

Authors : Rozerin Yüksel, Tamer Bayrak

Pages : 242-263

View : 56 | Download : 36

Publication Date : 2024-05-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Technological developments have digitized many concepts that deeply affect humanity\'s life. This digitization has led to profound changes in areas such as communication, education, commerce, and politics. Particularly, the digitization of politics has transformed traditional political styles and habits, giving rise to the concept of digital political communication. Politicians have begun to effectively use new media tools and aim to elevate their policies in online spaces. The most prominent feature of online communication spaces is interactive communication. Interactive communication plays a critical role for politicians in establishing effective communication with voters, shaping-directing public opinion, and in election campaigns. Actors adapting to the digital age seek to establish a connection with voters using platforms like social media, where interactive communication is heavily used and effective, and to turn this connection into electoral success. The strategic use of appropriate digital campaigns encourages voter participation in democratic processes while also supporting decision-making processes and idea sharing among voters. However, although elections in the digital age carry positive features for both politicians and voters, they also harbor significant negative features that influence the election processes and decision-making states of voters. These negative features affecting a large majority of voters include the sharing and analysis of individuals\' private information, the rapid spread of misinformation without passing through verification mechanisms, and algorithms creating misleading perceptions. In light of this information, the definition and importance of interactive communication have been researched, and the positive features of this communication type in both daily life and democratic processes have been identified, along with alternative suggestions for its negative features. The findings are supported with examples from Turkey and around the world, and the effects of these examples are discussed.
Keywords : İnteraktif İletişim, Dijitalleşme, Dijital Siyaset, Seçmen