Turkey's state-run news agency says police have detained 25 people for "spreading untrue information" on social media and provoking protests.

The Anadolu Agency says Wednesday the people were detained in the city of Izmir for allegedly "inciting the people to enmity and hate." It said police were still looking for 13 others.

Tens of thousands of Turks have joined anti-government protests expressing discontent with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 10-year rule.

Turkey's main broadcast media have been criticized for shunning the coverage of police brutality at the protest onset on Friday. Many people turned to social media to keep up to date with the developments.

Erdogan, who has dismissed the protests as demonstrations organized by an extremist fringe, has referred to the social media as "the worst menace to society."