The impact of social media on social movements : The case of Gezi Park Platform

Communication technologies as well as the media in have been gaining ground our lives very rapidly. Communication technologies offer opportunities for individuals to share their thoughts and works, and constitute a media sphere where sharing and discussion are the basis. Social media sphere, different from traditional mass media tools, is expanding its domain of impact rapidly. The concept of social media features online tools that allow users to interact with each other by sharing information, their opinions and interests. Communication opportunities brought by social media let non-governmental organizations (NGOs) be able to reach their target audiences which they had difficulty in reaching to, disseminate their messages, and take action easily and quickly. Social media tools such as social networks, rather than being an area of continuing personal communication, they also feature being a new online public sphere. Non-governmental organizations, having the feature of public sphere, ensure by using social media in this way that the issues they stand for get discussed, their messages disseminated, and their members and supporters mobilized. Social media features an area in which everyone who uses the Internet takes place. Not only for individuals, but also for organizations it has become a necessity to take part in this area. The reason for this is the target audience must be nearly there. Because, social media is the area where direct communication with the target audience is established. Key Words: Social media, civil society, social movements