An analysis of hate speech in the comments of users on the social media posts of the candidates in the 2nd round of the 2023 Presidential Election

The widespread use of social media platforms has significantly changed the nature of political communication. Politicians, campaign teams, and citizens now use social media tools to express their opinions, share information, and participate in discussions. However, these platforms have also become fertile ground for hate speech. This study examines the concepts of political communication, social media, and hate speech, focusing on how hate speech spreads on social media and how it is used in the context of political communication. People can reach large audiences very quickly through social media and express their opinions. In this case, hate speech can spread to very large audiences, be adopted, and negatively impact the person or group targeted by hate speech. Since hate speech on social media has a very rapid spread, the threat it poses is considered to be that much greater. The aim of the study is to reveal the spread and effects of the hate speech created by X users in their comments on the posts of political leaders during the election process. By analyzing the dimensions of the hate speech that has emerged, it is aimed to determine how hate speech is formed and its impact. The research covers the comments made on X posts made by presidential candidates Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who competed in the 2nd round of the 2023 presidential election, between May 14-28, 2023, directed at each other. The posts examined within the scope of the research were examined within the framework of Van Dijk's discourse analysis. As a result of the research, it was revealed that indirect hate speech expressed through allusions, word games, and accusations is more common than direct insults and curses. The discourse analysis conducted on the examined comments revealed that posts containing hate speech against a political actor are targeted by the supporters of the political actor, and that they make both direct attacks on the individual and posts supporting the speech of the political actor they defend. Keywords: Hate Speech, Political Communication, Twitter, Social Media