The use of social media as an information activity in the police force: A research on social media users

Today's technological developments have significantly influenced human life. The most important of these developments is the innovations in the field of communication, which is closely related to human beings as a social being. The concept of social media, which emerged with the development of communication technologies, has gone beyond individuality with its important functions such as access to large masses, interactive communication, instant feedback and easy presentation of the desired content, and has become a preferred communication tool in many fields such as public relations, marketing, advertising and politics. In addition to this, public institutions and organisations and users can be brought into interaction by using social media platforms that people use intensively. In these matters, many problems concerning the Police Organisation in our country can be prevented by carrying out informative activities through social media platforms. This study has emerged with the determination that the effects of the concept of communication on thoughts and behaviours can be applied more quickly and easily on users through social media tools. The aim of this study: It aims to reveal the nature of the impact of the information activities of the police organisation on users through social media accounts. The sample of the study, in which the relational survey method was used, consists of 211 participants using social media determined by convenient sampling. SPSS package programme was used for data analysis. As a result of the statistical analyses, it was determined that the use of social media as an information activity in the Police Force has positive effects on citizens in terms of compliance with the law and prevention of various crimes.