27.06.2026 13:20
President Erdoğan, speaking at the expanded provincial heads meeting held at the AK Party Congress Center, said without naming names about mayors who try every way for social media engagement: 'We see that with the influence of social media, a disease called engagement hunting is spreading in society, public sector, and local governments. Unfortunately, we witness that some of our own comrades, knowingly or unknowingly, are caught in this countercurrent.'
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking at the AK Party Expanded Provincial Chairmen's Meeting, harshly criticized the recent trend of "social media influencer culture" spreading among local governments and politicians. Stating that politicians have fallen into the trap of "interaction hunting," Erdoğan sent clear messages within the party, saying, "Unfortunately, some of our own colleagues are also swept up in this current. It is not possible for us to approve of these show-off approaches that harm our party."
"POLITICIANS ARE ALSO FALLING INTO THIS TRAP"
At the meeting held at AK Party Headquarters, President Erdoğan highlighted the negative impacts of technology and the pursuit of digital popularity on politics, expressing that the anxiety of staying on the agenda has turned into a virus. Erdoğan directed the following harsh criticisms regarding the issue: "With the influence of social media, we see that a disease called 'interaction hunting' is spreading in society, the public sector, and local governments. As privacy is ignored, the concept of private space is losing its meaning. Being visible, coming to the agenda, and being discussed are taking precedence over all values, including human dignity. The anxiety of being on the agenda and staying on the agenda turns into a big trap after a while. To tell the truth, politicians are also falling into this trap."
"SOME OF OUR OWN COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO SWEPT UP BY THIS OPPOSING CURRENT"
Emphasizing that show-oriented posts on social media harm AK Party politics and corporate identity, Erdoğan warned the mayors and administrators in his own party with these words: "Unfortunately, we witness that some of our own colleagues, knowingly or unknowingly, are swept up by this opposing current. I strongly underline that we must be cautious against such mistakes that neither benefit us politically nor in terms of communication, but on the contrary, harm our party. An approach that breaks the citizens' hearts, treats tradesmen harshly, and chases showmanship rather than tangible work may be the style of the opposition. But it is absolutely impossible for us to approve of this."
"IF ELECTIONS COULD BE WON WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA WIND..."
Stressing that official positions are not arenas for show but places of responsibility and service to the nation, the President said that digital platforms can never replace warm human interaction: "Places of service to the nation are not show arenas; they are positions of responsibility. No digital platform or application can replace face-to-face interaction, warm and dignified conversation. If elections could be won with a social media wind, there would be others in power and in the Presidency today."
Erdoğan stated that new media tools would be used to announce services, but they would not be trapped in the 'echo chambers' of these platforms, and instructed all organization members to work with dignity, courtesy, and a focus on serving the public.