Street interviews reliability of election surveys for young voters and their relationship with voting behavior

This study examines the function and credibility of street interviews published on YouTube ahead of the May 14, 2023, general elections as a citizen journalism practice for young voters. The research analyzes the potential of these interviews to create a democratic public sphere, viewers' perception of trust, and the potential impact of these content on young people's political attitudes and voting behavior. Furthermore, the reliability levels of street interviews and traditional public opinion polls were comparatively assessed. The study was conducted through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 20 university students aged 18-24. The findings revealed that young voters generally viewed street interviews as a friendly, accessible, and pluralistic source of information, but that neutrality, the possibility of fabrication, limitations of representation, and popularity concerns were among the factors affecting their perception of trust. Furthermore, street interviews were observed to contribute to young people's processes of increasing political awareness, engaging with diverse viewpoints, and connecting with like-minded individuals. In this context, the study demonstrates the impact of digital citizen journalism on young voters and makes an original contribution to the literature on its role in the current political communication environment.