The Multi-Dimensional Controversy: Mapping Instagram's Response to Turkey's Stray Animals Policy

Kemal Günay; Nevra Üçler

Article Details

The Multi-Dimensional Controversy: Mapping Instagram's Response to Turkey's Stray Animals Policy

Authors:

Kemal Günay | Nevra Üçler

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sosyal Medya Çalışmaları | Sosyal Medya Uygulamaları ve Analizi

Journal:

Moment Dergi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.126-157

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354145

pISSN:

2148-970X

Keywords:

Abstract:

 On July 30, the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey TBMM adopted a law proposal consisting of 17 articles, which came into effect after being published in the Official Gazette on August 2. The new regulation mandates that all stray dogs must be collected and kept in shelters until they are adopted. After the law proposal was accepted in the TBMM General Assembly, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a post on his Instagram account. However, the regulation has led to various public reactions due to uncertainties regarding its implementation. In this study, 2,021 user comments on President Erdoğans Instagram post were analyzed to understand public perceptions of the law and the impact of political discourse. The comments were classified based on whether the law was supported or opposed, gender breakdown, types of discourse, and thematic content. The results show that reactions to the stray animals law reflect not only legal but also social, ethical, religious, and gender-based dimensions. Women were found to oppose the law more strongly, reflecting higher sensitivity toward animal rights. Additionally, most of the anti-law comments focused on Compassion  Animal Rights and Governance Failure  Political Criticism. These findings suggest that policies on animal welfare require a multidimensional approach.

 On July 30, the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey TBMM adopted a law proposal consisting of 17 articles, which came into effect after being published in the Official Gazette on August 2. The new regulation mandates that all stray dogs must be collected and kept in shelters until they are adopted. After the law proposal was accepted in the TBMM General Assembly, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a post on his Instagram account. However, the regulation has led to various public reactions due to uncertainties regarding its implementation. In this study, 2,021 user comments on President Erdoğans Instagram post were analyzed to understand public perceptions of the law and the impact of political discourse. The comments were classified based on whether the law was supported or opposed, gender breakdown, types of discourse, and thematic content. The results show that reactions to the stray animals law reflect not only legal but also social, ethical, religious, and gender-based dimensions. Women were found to oppose the law more strongly, reflecting higher sensitivity toward animal rights. Additionally, most of the anti-law comments focused on Compassion  Animal Rights and Governance Failure  Political Criticism. These findings suggest that policies on animal welfare require a multidimensional approach.

 On July 30, the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey TBMM adopted a law proposal consisting of 17 articles, which came into effect after being published in the Official Gazette on August 2. The new regulation mandates that all stray dogs must be collected and kept in shelters until they are adopted. After the law proposal was accepted in the TBMM General Assembly, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a post on his Instagram account. However, the regulation has led to various public reactions due to uncertainties regarding its implementation. In this study, 2,021 user comments on President Erdoğans Instagram post were analyzed to understand public perceptions of the law and the impact of political discourse. The comments were classified based on whether the law was supported or opposed, gender breakdown, types of discourse, and thematic content. The results show that reactions to the stray animals law reflect not only legal but also social, ethical, religious, and gender-based dimensions. Women were found to oppose the law more strongly, reflecting higher sensitivity toward animal rights. Additionally, most of the anti-law comments focused on Compassion  Animal Rights and Governance Failure  Political Criticism. These findings suggest that policies on animal welfare require a multidimensional approach.

 Türkiyede, 30 Temmuz tarihinde Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi TBMM Genel Kurulunda yapılan oylama sonucunda kabul edilerek yasalaşan ve on yedi maddeden oluşan kanun teklifi, 2 Ağustosta Resmi Gazetede yayımlanarak yürürlüğe girmiştir. Yeni düzenleme ile sokaktaki tüm köpeklerin toplanarak sahiplendirilene kadar barınaklarda bakılması gerektiği düzenlemesi getirilmiştir. Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, kanun teklifinin TBMM Genel Kurulunda kabul edilmesinin ardından Instagram hesabı üzerinden bir paylaşımda bulunmuştur. Ancak, söz konusu düzenleme, nasıl uygulanacağına ilişkin belirsizlikler barındırdığı için kamuoyunda çeşitli tepkilere yol açmıştır. Bu çalışmada, Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğanın Instagram paylaşımına yapılan 2 bin yirmi bir kullanıcı yorumu incelenmiş. Çalışmada, yasaya yönelik kamuoyu algısı, siyasi söylemin etkisi bağlamında analiz edilmiştir. Yorumlar, yasayı destekleyip desteklemediği, cinsiyet kırılımı, söylem ve tematik içerik açısından sınıflandırılmıştır. Sonuçlar, sokak hayvanları yasasına yönelik tepkilerin sadece yasal değil, toplumsal, etik, dini ve cinsiyet temelli boyutlar taşıdığını göstermektedir. Kadınların yasaya karşı daha güçlü karşı çıktığı ve hayvan haklarına karşı daha yüksek bir duyarlılık yansıttığı görüldü. Ayrıca, yasa karşıtı yorumların çoğu Merhamet  Hayvan Hakları ve Yönetim Başarısızlığı ve Politik Eleştiri üzerine odaklanmıştır. Bu bulgular, hayvan refahı politikalarının çok boyutlu bir yaklaşım gerektirdiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Article Details

The Multi-Dimensional Controversy: Mapping Instagram's Response to Turkey's Stray Animals Policy

Authors:

Kemal Günay | Nevra Üçler

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sosyal Medya Çalışmaları | Sosyal Medya Uygulamaları ve Analizi

Journal:

Moment Dergi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.126-157

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354145

pISSN:

2148-970X

stray animals

animal rights

Instagram

public opinion

public discourse

public policysokak hayvanları

hayvan hakları

Instagram

kamuoyu

kamusal söylem

kamu politikası

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Kemal Günay | Nevra Üçler

Publisher: Hacettepe University

Main Topics: Sosyal Medya Çalışmaları | Sosyal Medya Uygulamaları ve Analizi

Journal: Moment Dergi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.126-157

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354145

pISSN: 2148-970X

Issues

Authors:

Kemal Günay | Nevra Üçler

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sosyal Medya Çalışmaları | Sosyal Medya Uygulamaları ve Analizi

Journal:

Moment Dergi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.126-157

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354145

pISSN:

2148-970X