Digital Citizenship From Below: Turkish State Versus Youtube

Abstract

This study aims to give a historically situated analysis of the YouTube ban as seen by Turkish internet users during the first YouTube ban period between 2007-10. The content is used from online Turkish anonymous user platform, eksi sozluk, (sour dictionary). The aim is to test whether there is a civil society response to the ban which political elites and ordinary citizens contest the necessity of access to global social media networks. The main focus of this research paper is the kinds of discourse the Turkish online community used to protest the ban during the first YouTube ban. Through a combination content analysis and discourse analysis the bloggers reactions are coded and indexed to decipher the discourse produced as an active resistance/criticism against the YouTube. The response to YouTube ban that come from Turkish internet users (from below) and was critical in times of global events effecting the usage of internet and was not silenced between these events. As long as they remained anonymous (not organized action) Turkish bloggers utilized their rights for online expression. Frequency of critical blog entries increase in times of events critical of government's YouTube ban. The response to the ban is either based on condemning it or offering ways around the ban; but not calling for united action. Anonymity of the user increases the level of criticism and participation. Finally, both the government authorities and NGOs expect individual action but demand organized corporate action