Samenvatting

In this day and age, social media has become an integral part of modern society. Protest movements are utilising new media more than ever seen before, specifically social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. This thesis provides an analysis of the role that social media played during the Gezi Park protests in Turkey, which commenced in May 2013. It has been highly debated that social media played an important role during the Gezi Park protests, with three distinguishing roles: a communication, an organisation and a mobilising role.
Methods of analysis include a mixed-method approach. This includes a documentary research and field research. Documentary research was achieved by conducting scientific books and articles in order to outline the connection between social media and the Gezi Park protests. Furthermore, in order to fulfil sufficient field research two Turkish social media managers were interviewed and in addition two Turkish university students who all participated in the protests, this allowed a greater depth of perspective and understanding of the case.
Parallel to the research, literature was studied. This literature review provided direction and guidance in the interpretation of the data obtained through interviewing.
Upon analysing the interviews, the results suggest that:
(1) Social media served as the main communication tool during the Gezi Park protests. The traditional media, i.e. newspapers and television channels, were not sufficiently documenting the protests due to restrictions placed upon them by the government.
(2) Social media appeared to be a significant contribution in the organisation of the protests. It is to be noted that all the announcements regarding location and timings were published onto such networks.
(3) Social media was the primary contributor in mobilising the protesters. Moreover, the distribution of information by family members or acquaintances is thought to have increased the speed in which the mobilisation process occurred during the protests.
The information obtained through the collection of documentary data, interviewing and studying existing literature has made it apparent that social media’s role during the Gezi Park protests was of major importance. However, as it is thought highly likely that new
media will continue to act as an important contributor in contemporary protests, additional research is required. This research cannot provide an answer to the question whether social media plays a significant role in protests as a whole. In order to provide a more in depth answer to this question, it is necessary that comparative studies are to be undertaken.
Keywords: Turkey; Istanbul; Gezi Park; Taksim; Protests; Social Media; New Media; Turkish Media; Press Freedom; Communication; Social Movements; Digital Activism; Internet Freedom