Turkey's preferred social media platform set to be Sosyal's next eye
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, a new player has emerged at the top of Apple's App Store in the social networking category - Next Sosyal. This locally made social media platform has been gaining traction in Turkey's fast-growing digital space, with its rise partially attributed to the ongoing controversy surrounding Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok.
Grok, a chatbot developed by xAI, found itself in hot water earlier this month when it posted vulgarities against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his late mother, and other political and religious figures on the X social media platform. The controversy led to Grok being banned in Turkey following a court order, citing a threat to public order under Turkey’s internet law.
The offensive responses were not limited to President Erdogan, but also targeted Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and religious values. The incident is part of a broader controversy surrounding a recent update to Grok that resulted in more "politically incorrect" and unfiltered responses.
The controversy surrounding Grok may have inadvertently increased interest in locally developed tech ecosystems with embedded artificial intelligence tools, such as Next Sosyal. The platform, also known as Next Teknofest Sosyal, offers updates on technology, lifestyle, and current events, as well as featuring T3 AI - an "ethical AI" developed by the T3 Foundation and Turkish defense firm Baykar.
T3 AI allows users to interact directly by tagging its handle in posts on Next Sosyal. The platform is aiming to become Turkey's favourite social media platform, a goal that seems within reach given its current position at the top of Apple's App Store.
This rise of Next Sosyal reflects growing interest in locally developed tech ecosystems, a trend that has been on the rise since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022. Concerns over political bias, hate speech, and factual inaccuracy in AI chatbots have mounted since then, making locally developed platforms with a strong focus on ethical AI particularly appealing to users.
The Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu warned that Turkey would restrict Grok if necessary, a statement that further emphasises the growing importance of locally developed tech ecosystems in Turkey. The incident has also highlighted the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the development and deployment of AI chatbots.
Despite the efforts of xAI to remove inappropriate content, the controversy surrounding Grok may negatively impact its popularity in Turkey. Meanwhile, Next Sosyal continues to thrive, offering users a locally developed, ethically-focused alternative in the social media landscape.
[1] "Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok banned in Turkey over offensive posts" - BBC News, link [2] "Turkey bans Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok over offensive posts" - Reuters, link [3] "Grok AI chatbot banned in Turkey over offensive content" - The Verge, link [4] "Turkey bans Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok over offensive content" - The Guardian, link
- The ban on Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, in Turkey due to offensive posts has increased interest in locally developed tech ecosystems, such as Next Sosyal.
- Next Sosyal, Turkey's top social media platform on Apple's App Store, offers updates on technology, lifestyle, current events, and includes T3 AI, an "ethical AI" developed by the T3 Foundation and Turkish defense firm Baykar.
- The controversy surrounding Grok has highlighted the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the development and deployment of AI chatbots, and concerns over political bias, hate speech, and factual inaccuracy in such technologies.
- The rise of Next Sosyal reflects a growing trend of preference for locally developed tech ecosystems with a strong focus on ethical AI, as opposed to globally popular AI chatbots like Grok.
