Use of New Media by Turkish Fans in Sport Communication: Facebook and Twitter

Abstract

This research examines the use of Facebook and Twitter, two social networks, for sportive reasons in Turkey.To this end, the literature was surveyed and a 5 Likert type data collection tool consisting of 21 questions was developed by the researcher based on the expert views. The sample of the research included 460 sport fans who are college students at Abant İzzet Baysal University and Sakarya University.It was found in the research that 91.7% of the participants had a profile on Facebook and 13.3% had a profile on Twitter. The rate of opening an account on Twitter, which still has no version in Turkish language, was low. It was found that the fans mostly followed the official site of their favorite team on Facebook, got informed about the sports activities through Facebook and learned news, which they did not hear from other sources. It was also ascertained that male fans used social networks for sportive reasons more than female fans did (p<.05).It is possible to state that social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have become a rapidly-developing alternative medium in sports against traditional media such as newspaper and television.

Sport and social media research: A review

“…This category consisted of 15 of the 70 articles included in the review. A majority of the researchers adopting a user-focus (9 out of 15) used questionnaires to collect data (e.g., Clavio, 2008;Clavio, 2011;Clavio & Kian, 2010;Clavio, Walsh, & Coyle, 2013;Gibbs, O'Reilly, Brunette, 2014;Mahan III, 2011;Ozsoy, 2011;Witkemper et al, 2012). In addition, content analyses were conducted within five articles (e.g., Blaszka, Burch, Frederick, Lim, Clavio, & Walsh, 2012;Gibbs et al, 2014;Reichart Smith & Smith, 2012;Sanderson, 2010;Stavros, Meng, Westberg, & Farrelly, 2013) and one study utilised an experimental design (e.g., Kwak, Kim, & Zimmerman, 2010).…”

“…In addition, the authors indicated that the majority of gratifications sought by CFL sport fans through social media use were satisfied by teams. Information gathering was a motive uncovered by Ozsoy (2011). Witkemper et al (2012) also highlighted information gathering as a motive driving sport fans Twitter use (along with entertainment), while concerns about skills and social anxiety were highlighted as constraints to Twitter use.…”

Impacto de twitter en la comunicación y promoción institucional de las universidades Impact of twitter on communication and institutional promotion of universities

“…Algunos autores apuestan por el -141 - (Dabbagh & Kitsantas, 2012;Forkosh-Baruch & Hershkovitz, 2011;Özsoy, 2011;Shafique, Anwar & Bushra, 2010). Concretamente, Özsoy (2011) afirma que Twitter permite el acercamiento entre usuarios para debatir temas gracias a la rápida interacción originada.…”

Spectators’ Awareness, Attitudes and Behaviors towards a Stadium’s Social Media Campaign

“…Along the route of the Tour de France, tour organizers encourage fans to tweet photos of the riders and the streets they are racing on (Hoeber, Hoeber, Wood, Snelgrove, Hugel, & Wagner, 2013). In Turkey, announcements made in stadiums and arenas prompt soccer and basketball fans to post their passions on Facebook and Twitter (Ozsoy, 2011).…”

“…Little research has been devoted to the understanding the factors that motivate individuals to use sports-related social media (Gantz & Lewis, 2014;Logan, 2014;Mahan, 2011;Ozsoy, 2011;Seo & Green, 2008;Witkemper, Lim, & Waldburger, 2012), but none of these studies have examined how and why sports fans use, follow, and share social media developed by sports stadium professionals. The current study aims to fill important gaps in the academic literature by examining the relationship between spectator's awareness, attitudes, and behaviors associated with social media efforts developed by a major sports stadium.…”