Meta’s Impact in Türkiye: Boosting economic growth, innovation, and participation

In a new report, Public First explores Meta’s role in supporting Türkiye’s digital economy, helping businesses reach customers, enabling innovation, and connecting people and communities across the country.

Türkiye’s digital economy is already worth ₺1.7 trillion, around 4% of GDP, and could more than double over the next decade to reach ₺4.3 trillion by 2035 under the right conditions. As digital tools become increasingly embedded in how people communicate, shop, work, and participate in cultural life, Meta’s technologies, AI tools and family of apps - including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp - are becoming part of Türkiye’s core digital infrastructure

Meta’s platforms support Turkish businesses of all sizes by lowering barriers to entry, helping firms reach domestic and international customers, and enabling faster, trusted communication with customers and suppliers. Social media platforms are now a primary route to market for many businesses, with 53% of Turkish small business owners in our poll saying platforms like Facebook and Instagram are their primary way of selling and finding new customers.

Key findings from the report include:

• The digital economy of Türkiye is worth ₺1.7 trillion today and could more than double to reach ₺4.3 trillion by 2035, under the right conditions.
• In 2025, WhatsApp enabled ₺220 billion in economic value for Turkish adults and businesses by reducing communication costs, improving lead generation, and widening market access.
• 73% of online Turkish adults have bought a product or service from a local Turkish retailer that they found on Facebook or Instagram.
• 92% of SMEs in our poll say Meta’s tools make it easier to advertise on a small budget.
• 67% of online Turkish adults have purchased a cultural product, such as a traditional craft, regional food, or unique design, directly from a local creator or small business they discovered on Instagram.
• 96% of Turkish adults in our poll use Meta’s platforms to stay in touch with family and friends.

The analysis also looks at how Meta’s platforms are supporting Türkiye’s cultural and creative economy, from helping artisans reach wider audiences to enabling Turkish media and entertainment brands to build global communities. It explores the role of WhatsApp as everyday economic infrastructure for businesses and side hustles, and examines how AI tools are set to support the next phase of Türkiye’s digital transformation.

Read the full report here.

Read the polling and modelling methodology note here.