If last summer’s Gezi Park protests in Turkey proved anything, it was the power of social media, especially Twitter. While mainstream media outlets generally kept quiet after the mass protests broke out on May 31, Twitter users reported live from the demonstrations with texts, pictures and videos. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose harsh rhetoric added fuel to the Gezi fire, called Twitter “a scourge.”

Part of the reason the prime minister lashed out against the social-media network was because his party could not respond effectively to Twitter users. According to one commentator, the number of Twitter users in Turkey jumped from 1.8 million to 10 million in the first 10 days of the protests. All but two of the top 10 hashtags during the protests were anti-AKP. One hashtag (#tayipistifa) even called for Erdogan’s resignation.

It looks like Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has learned from its shortcomings. A few days ago, the AKP announced that it will train 6,000 of its youth members as social-media activists. Under the plan, these social-media campaigners will disseminate information and canvass Internet users to bring them over to the party. In a sense, the 6,000-strong social-media army will defend the Justice and Development Party in the virtual world.

Given the AKP’s significant influence over the mainstream media in Turkey, why did the party hire so many social-media consultants so quickly? The question begets the answer: Traditional media outlets, especially TV stations and newspapers, have become so discredited in the eyes of Turkish people for their kowtowing to the AKP that Twitter and other social-media networks threaten to replace them as the main sources of news. In an infamous incident during the Gezi protests, Turkish viewers had to turn to CNN International because the local CNN affiliate was airing a documentary on penguins.