Research conducted by Dr. Onur Şen found that while nearly three-quarters of respondents support greater oversight of social media platforms, many are reluctant to verify or challenge false information they encounter online.

A study conducted by Dr. Onur Şen, Lecturer in the Department of Journalism at the Faculty of Communication of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), found that although most social media users expect platforms to be more effectively regulated, they are considerably less likely to take personal responsibility when confronted with misinformation or other harmful online content.

The findings are based on Dr. Şen's doctoral research, titled "The Positioning of Social Networking Sites in Türkiye's Digital Communication Ecosystem: The Active Participation of the Emerging User," which surveyed 650 participants aged 18 to 65 in Samsun.

The study revealed that 74.8% of respondents support the regulation and oversight of social networking platforms, yet many do not display the same level of responsibility in their own online behavior.

Users Expect Oversight but Rarely Intervene

According to Dr. Şen, social media users frequently encounter problems such as cyberbullying, hate speech, misinformation, violations of privacy and personal rights, and copyright infringement.

The research was designed to explore public attitudes toward platform regulation following legislative changes introduced in Türkiye in 2020 to regulate social networking services.

Beyond measuring public support for regulation, the study also examined how users respond to online threats and misleading content.

"Nearly 75 percent of users expect social media platforms to be regulated," Dr. Şen said. "We also examined whether users pay attention to the credibility of information sources and whether they develop strategies to protect themselves against online threats, including cyberbullying, hate speech, and misinformation."

Recognizing False Information Does Not Always Lead to Action

One of the study's key findings is that users often recognize false or misleading information but choose not to respond.

"When users encounter threats to their personal security or identify false information, they generally do not make an effort to correct it," Dr. Şen explained. "They acknowledge that they see the problem, but they are reluctant to engage in corrective action."

He also noted that the speed and ease with which information can be shared on social media make effective moderation particularly challenging.

As an example, Dr. Şen pointed to the widespread circulation of misleading information following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, arguing that such events demonstrate both the scale of the challenge and the limitations of existing preventive measures. He noted that governments have introduced various legal mechanisms to address the problem, including Türkiye's criminal provision concerning the public dissemination of misleading information.

Digital Media Literacy Remains Essential

Dr. Şen observed that some social media platforms have introduced community-based fact-checking tools, allowing users to evaluate the accuracy of disputed claims.

However, he emphasized that technological solutions alone are insufficient.

"Some platforms use community notes, asking users whether a particular claim is accurate. These tools can help reduce the spread of misinformation when people possess adequate digital media literacy. However, they are not enough. Unless we significantly improve digital media literacy, efforts to combat misinformation will inevitably reach a limit."

While the current research was conducted in Samsun, Dr. Şen suggested that expanding the study nationwide would provide a more comprehensive picture of public attitudes and online behavior across Türkiye.