ANKARA METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY’S SOCIAL MEDIA PRACTICES FROM THE DIALOGIC COMMUNICATION FRAMEWORK

Dialogic theory provides a significant theoritical basis for the assessment of social media. the concept of dialogic communication has been connected to relational theory and two way symmetrical model of public relations. accordingly, the concept has been discussed within the context of the compatibility of internet practices to dialogic principles and under the dialogic tenets of communication. the article analyzes three social media interfaces presented in the website of ankara metropolitan municipality; twitter account of mayor melih gökçek, municipality’s twitter account and municipality’s facebook account. municipality’s social media interfaces have been successful with regard to the dialogic principles of internet practices. however, the communication’s diaologic level has not been sufficient. in particular, despite very high number of followers, mayor gökçek’s practice does not support dialogue. this practice emerges as a negative trend for local politics, participation and democracy. municipality’s twitter account emerges as the best practice among the three with regard to dialogic communication.