RELATIONSHIP OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC POLICY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USERS: CASE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

In recent years, social media has gained a considerable power with an influence reaching public order and political agenda all over the world. The relationship between public policy and social media plays a significant role in social media's soaring importance. This study aims at examining the relationship between public policy and social media through social media users' perception. With this aim in mind, a field study was conducted with the participation of the most active user group of social media, university students, in order to assess their perception of the relationship between social media and public policy. In this framework, firstly, the study dwells on the relationship between public policy and social media within a conceptual framework. In the second part of the study, a survey was conducted with the participation of 104 undergraduate students who are studying in Hacettepe University, Political Science and Public Administration Department. Findings were discussed by comparing those of two important studies from Turkey and USA. In the conclusion section, results of the study were listed and some suggestions on improving public policy making process were made.