Understanding the Use of Social Media as Platform for Students’ Opinions about Politics and Elections

Abstract

Social media is known for many things, like sharing posts, advertising, marketing, and online communication. That said, due to the severity of the pandemic, more people are using social media, including the youth. The researchers have observed a sudden rise in political posts online. The study tackled the phenomenon's connection to the upcoming 2022 Philippines elections and politics in general. The qualitative research involved six politically active Senior High School students selected through purposive sampling. The informants’ age ranged from 16 to 18 years old. They should be constantly posting, sharing, and expressing their opinions about the upcoming 2022 elections or anything relating to politics on any social media platform. The researchers discovered that the students used social media to convey information and facts about politics, especially with the upcoming 2022 election. The informants’ desire provides this for social change, as they do multiple actions representing their values as politically active students. The researchers noted that students tend to engage in debates to educate the opposing, especially in an era of “fake news” and political misinformation. The researchers noted from the informants that there could be repercussions when posting their own opinions on social media sites. The informants stated to have formal and healthy discourse between opposing netizens on social media to have a meaningful impact. The researchers noted that students tend to post on Facebook and Twitter for its user-friendly interface, and it reaches a larger demographic. These findings showcase how the youth nowadays have clear and everyday thoughts on their capability to make a difference in the community, with increased engagement in social and political issues through more accessible online platforms.