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EXPERTS WARN INTERNET MAY AFFECT POLITICS IN TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2011 - 14:14 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Messages shared by Turkey's young and dynamic
population on the world's most popular social networking platforms
might lead to political results similar to those seen during the
ongoing Arab Spring, a top Turkish marketing professional said.
"Spring for some, and winter for some others: The Arab Spring started
on Twitter and Facebook," Gunseli Ozen Ocakoglu, editor-in-chief of
Marketing Turkey and head of the Marketing and Management Institute,
said on the sidelines of the Interactive Marketing Summit held in
Istanbul, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
"Unfortunately, Turkish political leaders often underestimate the power
of youth living in Turkey as they are all united in online platforms
and are ready to unite and protest for anything," said Ocaklıoglu.
According to her, Turkish youth experienced their "first victory"
against a new web filtering plan that the Information and Communication
Technologies Authority, or BTK, planned to implement in August.
"Some started the protests first on Facebook and Twitter; later, many
joined the protest against the BTK's decision," she said, adding that
the BTK had postponed the filter's implementation until November so
that improvements could be made.
"They eventually got the message," she said.
"Turkey's politicians should understand that youngsters are [aware]
and that they will continue to become involved in serious issues,"
said Ocakoglu, adding that the real talent was to "read the messages
carefully."
In Turkey, there are 34 million Internet users and 30 million Facebook
users - nearly 14 million of whom are between the ages of 15 and 24.
Some 16 million people are between 15 and 25, while nine out of every
10 youth use social networking platforms, according to recent research
from the Turkish Statistical Institute, or TurkStat.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2011 - 14:14 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Messages shared by Turkey's young and dynamic
population on the world's most popular social networking platforms
might lead to political results similar to those seen during the
ongoing Arab Spring, a top Turkish marketing professional said.
"Spring for some, and winter for some others: The Arab Spring started
on Twitter and Facebook," Gunseli Ozen Ocakoglu, editor-in-chief of
Marketing Turkey and head of the Marketing and Management Institute,
said on the sidelines of the Interactive Marketing Summit held in
Istanbul, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
"Unfortunately, Turkish political leaders often underestimate the power
of youth living in Turkey as they are all united in online platforms
and are ready to unite and protest for anything," said Ocaklıoglu.
According to her, Turkish youth experienced their "first victory"
against a new web filtering plan that the Information and Communication
Technologies Authority, or BTK, planned to implement in August.
"Some started the protests first on Facebook and Twitter; later, many
joined the protest against the BTK's decision," she said, adding that
the BTK had postponed the filter's implementation until November so
that improvements could be made.
"They eventually got the message," she said.
"Turkey's politicians should understand that youngsters are [aware]
and that they will continue to become involved in serious issues,"
said Ocakoglu, adding that the real talent was to "read the messages
carefully."
In Turkey, there are 34 million Internet users and 30 million Facebook
users - nearly 14 million of whom are between the ages of 15 and 24.
Some 16 million people are between 15 and 25, while nine out of every
10 youth use social networking platforms, according to recent research
from the Turkish Statistical Institute, or TurkStat.