Abstract:

In the individual-politics relationship political interest, political participation and the role of social media stand out when the individual’s following of the decision-making processes related to what is happening in the political field and the effort to influence them are centered. Social media platforms that serve corporate or individual use provide almost everyone with an opportunity to express themselves. Therefore, the fact that it is fairly easy to have a social media account and produce content has enabled the individual to explain his thoughts about what is basically happening in the political field. In this study, using a cross sectional quantitative research method, it was aimed to examine the level of social media usage for political expression within the framework of political interest and participation. In addition, the platforms used by individuals in order to share political thoughts were examined in the context of the relevant variables. As a result, it was determined that WhatsApp was used more to share thoughts or get ideas on political issues, while political participation and interest in Twitter were at the highest level. It was observed that those who use social media for political expression had higher political participation and interest. On the other hand, it was found that gender, age, and educational degree did not have a significant relationship with the level of social media usage for political expression.

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