Social media use of municipalities: Elâzığ Municipality example

This study examines how and for what purposes social media platforms, which have become effective tools for direct communication with citizens, are used by Elazığ Municipality. In other words, the purpose of this study is to examine Elazığ Municipality's current social media usage and make a detailed analysis of it. Within the scope of the study, Elazığ Municipality's corporate accounts on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and Youtube platforms were examined using the content analysis method between June 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. Elements such as frequency of posts, types of content and citizen interaction were investigated, and inferences were made on the municipality's social media usage based on this data. According to the findings of the thesis, it was observed that Elazığ Municipality mostly used social media for the services it provided, announcements, internal issues and visits it made. The goal of promoting services for citizens and informing the public is at the forefront. In addition, social media platforms offer important opportunities to strengthen municipality-citizen interaction and to support the principles of transparency and participation. As a result, it is suggested that social media tools are an effective communication tool for municipalities, but this potential can be strengthened with a more strategic and interaction-oriented approach.