The Presidency's Deputy Head of Communications, İlhami Giray Şahin, attended the Specialisation Academy Programme organised in collaboration with the Bolu Provincial Branch of the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, under the theme "Century of Türkiye" in the university’s conference hall and shared his views on the transformation of communication technologies.
Noting that, due to globalisation and the development of digital technologies, social media platforms have become an integral part of daily life, Deputy Head of Communications Şahin stated that these platforms are used extensively for information gathering, socialising, and entertainment.
The Deputy Head Şahin pointed out that excessive use of social media, however, carries various risks and said, "Although social media provides quick access to information, interaction and the opportunity to communicate with others, when used excessively, it brings with it risks such as physical and psychological disorders, technology addiction, attention deficit, cyberbullying and social isolation."
Highlighting in particular how short, visually-focused content influences the way people think and perceive, Deputy Head of Communications Şahin noted that prolonged use of social media throughout the day also has a negative impact on language.
Deputy Head of Communications Şahin stated that digitalisation offers advantages such as speed, efficiency, easy access to information, and global communication, while also bringing certain major risks, foremost among them disinformation, violations of personal data, cyberbullying, technology addiction, social isolation, and malicious software.
Şahin stated that technology facilitates communication by removing the constraints of time and space, while stressing that information circulating in digital environments may not always be accurate and must be verified.
Deputy Head of Communications Şahin drew attention to fake videos and said, "Fake videos and distorted or manipulated content are used as some of the most powerful tools of disinformation. It is, therefore, important to be aware of information discrepancies."
"We should be cautious against clickbait"
Deputy Head of Communications Şahin stated that attention should be paid not only to headlines but also to the content, adding, "The headline should be read together with the content, and we should be cautious against clickbait. Some content is produced with the purpose of irony and humour. It should be investigated whether the content is indeed irony or humour."
Stressing that content produced by artificial intelligence should also be evaluated with care, Deputy Head of Communications Şahin stated, "You are faced with content presented as a ready-made package without the opportunity to verify where it was sourced from, how it has circulated, or whether it reflects the truth or reliable information. Although this casual approach may at times show evidence of being correct, there is a strong likelihood that it could later lead people in the wrong direction."
Deputy Head of Communications Şahin explained that the Presidency’s Communication Centre (CİMER) serves as an important public service through which citizens can directly submit their requests, complaints, reports, and opinions to the Presidency, adding, "CİMER adopts the principle of informing the public with accurate information in a citizen-focused, effective, swift, and transparent manner. In line with the applications submitted, the societal impact of implemented public policies is monitored, thereby contributing to the policymaking process."
Deputy Head of Communications Şahin stated that the changing landscape of communication was addressed within the scope of the programme titled "The Power of Communication in the Century of Türkiye", emphasising that communication is not limited to simply conveying information.
Şahin stated that social media users need to distinguish truth from falsehood, saying, "The ability to tell truth from falsehood, to act as conscious digital citizens, and to assume social responsibility is of great importance. The most important skills of the digital age are critical thinking, the habit of verification, and ethical responsibility."
Stating that a stronger society can be built through the proper use of technology, Deputy Head of Communications Şahin added that young people will become not only users of the digital age but also those shaping it.
The event was attended by the Provincial Mufti Hüseyin Demirtaş, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Vice Rectors Prof. Ferudun Kaya and Prof. Kaya Yıldız, TÜGVA Provincial Representative Muhammet Mustafa Özdere, as well as academics and students.
