526 BEST PRESENTATION - AWARDED Effects of Social Media on Civil and Political Participation and a Field of Survey over on Facebook/Assistant Prof. Dr. Fatma Kamiloálu, Istanbul Aydín University, Turkey & Emre Erdoáan, Ph.D. Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey Asst. Prof. Dr. Fatma Kamiloálu, fstanbul Ayd ín University; Turkey fatmakamiloglu@aydin.edu.tr Emre Erdoáan, Ph.D. fstanbul Bilgi University, Turkey emre.erdogan@infakto.com.tr Fatma Kamiloálu: Born in Istanbul, 1978. Kamilo álu graduated from fstanbul University, Faculty of Communication and has a doctoral degree from Marmara University Faculty of Communication, Dept. of Advertisement. Kamilo álu teaches in Istanbul Ayd ín University and she has several publications about brand management and communication management. Emre Erdoáan: Born in Bursa, 1971. Graduated from Bo áaziçi University, Dept. of Political Sciences and International Relations and completed his PhD. in the same department. Erdo áan teaches social statistics and research methods in Istanbul Bilgi Üniversity and he has several publications about public opinion, voting behavior, social capital and political participation. He’s also one of founders of independent public opinion polling agency, Infakto RW. Abstract Turkish youth is characterized with low level of political participation. Several surveys showed that less than 10 percent of Turkish youth are active in political parties and civil society organizations. There are cultural and behavioral reasons of this inertia. Meanwhile, Facebook, the most important social network site is widely used in Turkey and Turkish users form the 6th biggest population in Facebook but level of political participation in Facebook is unknown. By using data collected from 563 university students, this paper showed that there different dimensions of political participation in Facebook and level of activity in these dimensions is dependent on several factors. Demographic factors are important in “active participation”, meanwhile participation through “direct” or “indirect” expression are affected by Facebook usage patterns of respondent as well as “real life” political activities and perceptions. EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND A FIELD OF SURVEY OVER ON FACEBOOK Introduction Turkish youth is characterized with their inertia to participate in politics. More than one survey showed that only 10 percent of young people living in Turkey are involved in direct politics such as becoming a member of a political party or directly participating in canvassing and other conventional political activities. Participation in unconventional politics is also limited, Turkish youth don’t prefer to participate in boycotts or meetings, as well as being a member of a civil society organization is not popular among them. There different explanations of this inertia, from a deterministic explanation about political culture to behavioral approach emphasizing rules and regulations designed to prevent political participation. In the meantime, social network sites, especially Facebook is very popular among Turkish Internet users. According to official statistics, number of Facebook users is more than 30 million and 90 percent