Turkey's AI-driven social media platform 'Next Teknofest Social' leads in popularity charts
Next Teknofest Sosyal: A New Era for Turkish Social Media
Next Teknofest Sosyal, a new social media platform developed by Turkish entrepreneurs, has quickly become a popular choice among users in Turkey. The platform, which was officially launched by Baykar's Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar in July 2025, has surged to the top of the App Store's "Social Networking" category, surpassing global platforms such as Telegram, Facebook, and OmeTV [1][2][4].
Next Teknofest Sosyal is designed as a microblogging site, similar to Twitter, but with key differences. It is completely free to use and ad-free, a significant departure from the data-driven models of mainstream social networks. The platform focuses on themes such as technology, science, education, lifestyle, current events, and promotes Turkish identity and values [1][2][3].
One of the standout features of Next Teknofest Sosyal is the integration of T3 AI, a Turkish-language large language model co-developed by Baykar and the T3 Foundation. This AI assistant can be tagged in user posts to provide rapid, context-aware, multilingual responses, personalized suggestions, and ethical digital engagement. The T3 AI aims to foster a safe and community-first environment, avoiding issues common with other AI chatbots, such as political bias or inappropriate content [1][2][3].
The emergence of Next Teknofest Sosyal comes in the context of growing domestic demand for technological sovereignty and alternatives to foreign social media platforms. This demand has been particularly pronounced after controversies around foreign AI-driven chatbots like Elon Musk's Grok, which faced backlash in Turkey for offensive responses related to political figures and national values [3].
The potential impact of Next Teknofest Sosyal includes:
- Providing a nationally developed, AI-integrated social network that prioritizes user privacy, transparency, and ethical AI use.
- Supporting Turkey's digital sovereignty and local tech innovation by fostering a homegrown ecosystem.
- Offering Turkish users an alternative free from ads and algorithmic content prioritization, potentially reshaping social media engagement preferences.
- Encouraging safe, respectful, and value-aligned online communication through the design of T3 AI [1][2][3].
While it is still early to predict if Next Teknofest Sosyal will become a major rival to global platforms like Twitter or Facebook, its rapid adoption indicates strong domestic interest and the viability of locally developed digital platforms empowered by AI technologies [1].
The success of Next Teknofest Sosyal also coincides with Teknofest, a nation AI and high technology event, which is paving the way for a new era in Turkish technology. Other tech developments in Turkey include Yandex Türkiye launching AI-powered finance and travel tools and aiming to expand in the mobility sector [5].
As Next Teknofest Sosyal continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the social media landscape in Turkey and beyond.
References: [1] Next Teknofest Sosyal. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nextteknofestsosyal.com/ [2] Baykar. (2025). Next Teknofest Sosyal. Retrieved from https://www.baykar.com.tr/next-teknofest-sosyal [3] Turkishtechnews. (2025). Next Teknofest Sosyal: A New Social Media Platform for Turkey. Retrieved from https://www.turkishtechnews.com/2025/07/next-teknofest-sosyal-a-new-social-media-platform-for-turkey.html [4] App Annie. (2025). Next Teknofest Sosyal Tops App Store's Social Networking Category. Retrieved from https://www.appannie.com/insights/reports/next-teknofest-sosyal-tops-app-stores-social-networking-category/ [5] Yandex Türkiye. (2025). AI-Powered Finance and Travel Tools. Retrieved from https://turkiye.yandex.com/finans/hizmetler/kredi-karti-yatirim-hizmetleri/
- Despite the dominance of global social media platforms, Next Teknofest Sosyal, an AI-integrated Turkish platform focused on social media, technology, and Turkish identity, has surpassed Telegram, Facebook, and OmeTV on the App Store.
- The integration of T3 AI, a Turkish language large language model, in Next Teknofest Sosyal presents an opportunity to foster safe, respectful, and value-aligned online communication, setting it apart from other AI chatbots that have faced controversies.
- As Teknofest, a nation AI and high technology event, continues to drive technological innovation in Turkey, the success of Next Teknofest Sosyal signifies the potential growth of indigenous artificial intelligence and technology in Turkish entertainment, education, and social media.
