The effect of social media on voter behavior in the context of digital sociology

As a new medium that has developed in the last twenty years, social media has turned into an environment where the individual can re-exist in daily life through mutual interaction. Innovations and developments in digital technologies have significant effects in all areas of social life, in addition to affecting one's political preferences. Individuals can create an agenda by sharing their views and ideas through social media, and they can also direct daily political processes on social media platforms. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of social media on voter behavior in the context of digital sociology. In this framework, the purpose of use of digital platforms has been determined by analyzing the behaviors of people aiming at creating an impact on the political system through social media. This study examines the effects of social media together with the socialization of people, especially in childhood, with the contribution of education and family, as specified by Pierre Bourdieu with 'Habitus', which is one of the basic concepts of the constructivist, structuralist theory of action. The study was designed by determining the focus question based on the quantitative research method in the research. The data were collected with the prepared questionnaire and the data analysis and interpretation processes were followed. In the research, the questionnaire form was applied to 1003 people in 12 provinces at TUIK Level-1. With the scales prepared through the findings obtained within the scope of the research; the level of political participation, the level of voting tendency according to socio-demographic characteristics, the level of being affected by propaganda and politics during election periods, the level of obtaining information on political issues from traditional media sources and from the social media sources, the frequency of use of social media and the level of trust in political posts in social media were analyzed. Based on the findings of the research, it was concluded that people get information through social media and their views on political issues differ according to the social media sources they get information from. Users define social media as a free environment where political ideas are shared and discussed, but also as an environment where ideas can be conflicted and manipulated.