Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication held an event titled “Changes in Social Media and Current Developments in the Digital World”. In the program attended by Prof. Dr. Levent Eraslan, Eraslan stated that one out of every two people in the world shows activity on social media networks. Eraslan, pointing out the most intensely used social media platforms in the world and in our country, noted that YouTube is leading in Turkey. Eraslan said, “Turks love to see and watch. YouTube is based on seeing and watching.” Eraslan also stated that currently 30 local and national live conference systems are in the testing phase at TÜBİTAK.
The program was held via Zoom under the moderation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Feride Zeynep Güder, Head of the New Media and Communication Department.
“There are 3 billion 810 million social media users in the world”
Prof. Dr. Eraslan, President of the Social Media and Digital Security Education and Research Association (SODİMER), stated that social media is an important news source; “In many events, social media becomes an important news source for us. During the Izmir Earthquake, and many social events, we received news from social media. There are 3 billion 810 million social media users in the world. Considering that the world's population is 8 billion, approximately half of it uses social media, and 304 million people enter social networks every year. This means almost one out of every two people in the world shows activity on social media networks. In our country, 77 million out of a population of 83 million use mobile devices. If there is a mobile device, there is internet; if there is internet, there is social media. 64% of 62 million internet users in our country use social media,” he said.
“YouTube is prominent in Turkey”
Eraslan, touching upon the most used social media platforms in the world and in Turkey; “When we look at global penetration, Facebook is the most used social media network. YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook are among the most used platforms. YouTube is also prominent in Turkey. They even agreed to open a representative office here. Why is YouTube leading in Turkey? Because Turks love to see and watch, and YouTube is based on seeing and watching. Turks reportedly listen to music and watch movies the most on YouTube. 95% of the 18-24 age group uses YouTube; we are intensely on YouTube,” he stated.
“30 local and national live conference systems are in the testing phase at TÜBİTAK”
Eraslan, also stating that he serves at the Presidency's Digital Transformation Office; “Currently, 30 local and national live conference systems are in the testing phase at TÜBİTAK. We will see local and national conference systems on the market after a while. But we must hurry because Zoom has now become a tool used by average housewives. Zoom has become one of the digital companies that marked the year 2020,” he said.