DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY - DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND COMMUNICATION

   BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS ANTECEDENTS FOR

POLITICAL SUPPORT AMONG VOTERS

A research presented to the

Faculty of  the Social Sciences Department
De La Salle University Dasmarinas 

In partial fulfillment of requirements for the course titled:

Political Economy
PSC32

Enriq James B. Malabanan

January 2023
INTRODUCTION
It is necessary to examine how citizens learn about politics and current affairs from sources other than
traditional news media. The situation is particularly true due to the shift from print to digital news media
and social media. When it comes to political and current affairs learning, determining whether or whether
using social media to acquire political news compensates for lack of exposure to traditional news media is
a worthwhile investment that can be challenging.

Aside from that, determining the efficiency of this strategy may prove to be a difficult task. Social media
is slowly but steadily gaining acceptance as a reliable source of political news and information.
According to Hynnä et al. (2019) social media usage relates to political awareness, even though the
average social media user only clicks on a small proportion of the political content available in their news
feed. When reading a significant number of news stories, it is believed to have a moderating effect on
more extreme beliefs and the readiness to engage in dialogue with those who hold those viewpoints.

On the other hand, people exposed to a news feed with news posts didn't think they were more
knowledgeable than people exposed to a news item and got accurate information from it. In research from
Blair (2013), while social media is frequently accused of serving as a conduit for inaccurate details on
issues, it may also serve as a beneficial tool for rectifying incorrect information regarding specific topics.
An additional component to consider is financing social media projects that attempt to distribute correct
information about global health concerns. Motivate people to challenge erroneous or misleading
information by, for example, giving them acceptable references to go along with their rejection of the
inaccurate or misleading material in question (Blair, 2013). Citizens may assume that they do not need to
seek news in today's media environment. Social media is at the forefront of the debate because they will
be exposed to information and remain well-informed through their peers and social networks.

Moreover, the current media environment makes this not the case. Park (2015) stated that political
campaigns worldwide have been significantly influenced by social media. Social media has altered the
way political campaigns are run and how politicians and the general public access and share political
information and ultimately engage in or disengage from the political process in general. Social media has
impacted our knowledge of political communication and its consequences for citizens, making it
challenging to demonstrate noticeable and consistent effects across a broad range of issues (Park, 2015).
There is a considerable variation between social media platforms, both in terms of the types of
interactions between users and the algorithms employed to construct feeds. Citizens expect that
unintentional exchanges with political content on social media will help close the gap in online
involvement between people who are intensely interested in politics and those who are not. The level of
exposure news and politics receive in a newsfeed is determined by the behaviors of a varied set of people
interested in news and politics.

BODY
As we are already well endowed in the digital age, we are at a time where we heavily rely on technology
in every facet of our lives. As factual information is readily accessible, so does rampant use of
disinformation as exacerbated by the influx of users foolishly immersing in disinformation. Deceitful
posts are spread out among various social strata and it is pivotal to educate the masses on the importance
of fact-checking. This is a rampant issue involving both the private and public sectors of our society. In
order to mitigate this, accountability, the ability to fact-check and control internet usage shall be
thoroughly implemented for public welfare.

With each passing year, our world undergoes yet another transformation. This shift ushered in a
revolution in how we disseminate and consume news and information. We no longer have to wait days or
even weeks for the next issue of a newspaper to arrive in the mail; thanks to the internet, we can now get
our news instantly and from anywhere in the world.

The election season of the previous year was when most of our youth became most interested in
Philippine politics. Even more so in Leni Robredo's bid for the presidency. I went to her rallies and tried
to get the word out about how important it is to have open government and open society. As a result, I
learned about the phenomenon of misinformation and the far-reaching consequences that even a single
false post may have. According to Dan's (2020) research, today's youth are more skeptical of urban
legends and disinformation campaigns than previous generations because of their technological
sophistication. However, it contradicts current societal trends. Even though the majority of them are
technically savvy, they don't bother double-checking their facts. There is nothing wrong with using the
internet as a primary source of information; in fact, many reputable news organizations in our country are
now publishing online as well.

Unfortunately, the problem here is that members of Generation Z are learning new things through the
wrong medium. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are popular among
Generation Z members. People have become overly reliant on social media to the point where their views
on important issues such as the political climate and the state of the economy have been influenced by
what they read on these sites. These subtle nuances of disinformation can eventually lead on to the
manipulation of how Gen Zs perceive the elections. This was the case during this year's Philippine
National Elections where most Gen Zs were divided into two classes, each supporting a different political
party. A fight of voters against voters, rather than candidates against candidates, was waged in the 2022
elections. Our everyday intake of information is shown to alter our perceptions and lead us to believe in
things that aren't true. We're addicted to the Internet's intangible comforts, but we rarely undertake any
research to verify them. Here, the bigger problem is that 31 million Filipinos voted for an unfit president
based on misinformation. Staying alert in these challenging times is essential for the next six years.

Despite the fact that the economy is in shambles and government corruption is at an all-time high, the
majority of Gen Zs continue to use the internet primarily for entertainment purposes. They appear to be
more concerned with the upheavals in various celebrities' romantic lives than with the economic crisis
confronting our country. As things stand, our country is on the verge of a major crisis, which could be the
beginning of the end. Generation Z is the future of this country, and as such, we have a responsibility to
ensure its success. We must refocus on what is most important, on what will actually benefit our country.
We also have a responsibility to exercise caution and self-control when it comes to the data we share and
collect. If we succeed, we will be forced to reconsider our approach to politics. We're currently living in a
society where most people prioritize popularity and image over decent governance and projects. Go
outdoors and strike up a chat with a random stranger. Find out what they think of our current political
system. They are expected to laugh it off or just nod and smile carelessly. A sign that the majority of
Filipinos regard politics only as a means to an end, rather than as a place where they may take part in
meaningful reforms and actions. This is the agonizing social framework in which our state currently finds
itself.

The public's use of social media for political information has increased, and there have been significant
changes in the country's demographic characteristics. Using Social Cognitive Theory, this study evaluates
social media network features and social media behaviors that can facilitate increased political
participation both online and offline. The findings indicate that users of social media political power and
their offline political engagement are influenced by their use of social media networks expression and
social media political expression experiences. The role of social media political benefit in promoting
broad forms of social media political expression is given special consideration.

This study is also supported by the Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT), which determines Filipino
acceptance of their political situation and will serve as the foundation for determining awareness among
potential respondents and beneficiaries of the investigation. It is important to note that mindfulness is
mentioned in the theory of monitoring proportion, as well as how it may improve the results of cognitive
functioning. As a result, the ability to monitor will increase the effectiveness of the effects on the
individual's reactivity and acceptance.

The relationship between the study's independent variables and its dependent variables is demonstrated
with the use of an illustration. Both the Political Support Among Voters and Social Media Platforms are
considered to be independent variables for the purposes of this investigation. This study's dependent
variable, Political Engagement through Social Media, and Political Support among voters. is an important
one since it serves as a major dependent variable.

DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT
VARIABLE VARIABLE

Political
Support Among
Political Engagement
Voters
through Social Media
and Political Support Social Media
among voters. Platforms

ANALYSIS
According to Bode (2015), the quantity of studies embraced on the connection between web-
based media and political activity has expanded essentially lately, however little is had some
significant awareness of the worth of web-based media as a wellspring of public political
information overall. In addition to other things, the writer is investigating if and how much
political data can be acquired through online media stages like Facebook and Twitter, trying to
address this data hole. The utilization of online media, especially among youngsters, as per a few
investigators, can possibly assume a significant part in the procurement of political information
in the present media scene, especially as far as casting a ballot. Due to the examination's half and
half trial and overview-based plan, not set in stone that web-based media clients can assimilate
political information from online media, however that this potential isn't constantly
acknowledged by the overall population because of the discoveries. (Bode, 2015)

Smith and Niker (2021) explained that while talking about the political effect of online media, it
is normal for individuals to highlight the capacity of mass fights to oust systems to act as an
illustration of how web-based media can politically affect the political cycle. Be that as it may,
this isn't the main illustration of how web-based media can politically affect political interaction.
Online media advocates don't really accept that it can achieve change surprisingly fast for
months, but instead that it can possibly work on common society and the public area because of
its broad use. However essential as it very well might be to secure web opportunity as an overall
objective, the United States government should forgo utilizing the web to additional particular
approach goals in individual nations. (Smith and Niker, 2021)

Duncombe (2019) reported that an intriguing new disclosure concerning how online media has
advanced into an essential mechanism of correspondence between individuals is made virtually
each day, and how it is turning out to be more profoundly interlaced in the central constructions
that administer our day-by-day associations with each other and with the remainder of the world.
This sort of entrance, then again, isn't restricted to the domain of relational associations. It can
happen whenever and in any area. Web-based media stages, for example, Twitter and other
online media stages all through the web-based media environment are more viable at aiding
political pioneers, state run administrations, and countries manage emergencies and set up harm
control measures to decrease the effect of those emergencies when they are utilized consistently
by those in, influential places.

Over the course of the past decade, social media have matured into incredibly successful political
tools, both in election campaigns and in governance (Owen, 2022). This is true whether we are
talking about the United States or another country. The infotainment movement of the 1980s
signaled the beginning of the new media period, which began when television talk programs, talk
radio, and tabloid newspapers began to take on increasing political roles. This shift occurred
about the same time as the commencement of the new media period. The introduction of the
Internet as a vehicle for the diffusion of political content in the 1990s ushered in a period of
transformation that was more profound than what had come before it. In the initial stages of its
development, digital technology provided consumers with platforms on which they could browse
static papers and brochures. However, not long after that, it started hosting web pages that
featured interactive components. These affordances made it possible for the public to respond to
political events and issues, communicate directly with candidates and political leaders, and
contribute original news, images, and videos.

Facebook is the proprietor of four of the seven most popular social media platforms, including
Facebook itself, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram (Schleffer, 2021). These four social
media networks, along with Google's YouTube, make up the top five in terms of popularity
among those that are not located in China. By reflecting public sentiment, venues for social
media have the potential to bolster the strength of democracies. Clay Shirky contends that the use
of social media can serve to expand people's freedoms and alter their political perspectives by
exposing them to a wider variety of beliefs that are shared by their friends, family members, and
coworkers (Schleffer, 2021).

Users face new social issues, such as how to respond to posts from friends and family that they
strongly disagree with or find offensive, when political discussions move into otherwise personal
social media areas. Users face this and many other societal difficulties as political debates enter
formerly private social media platforms. There is a segment of social media users who are very
active in political discussions.

RECOMMENDATION
It is essential for other researchers to focus on the psychological aspect of the users' behavior when it
comes to assessing how they were able to discern which pieces of information readily available online are
factual or not. Considering that the results confirmed the reliance of today's youth on the intangible
plethora of information provided by social media, it is essential for other researchers to focus on this
aspect. In the end, this research study concentrated entirely on the social structure of media platforms on
which young people are largely afflicted by the surge of false information that was prevalent throughout
the election season in 2022.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, the question left in the minds of Filipinos: Why does this practice perpetuate? Is there a way
to stop it? In light of these technological abominations, fact-checking is a potential method for combating
media misinformation. (Greenwood, 2020) You can't go wrong by spending just a few seconds verifying
that the information you're consuming comes from a reputable source. It's a good idea to examine the
news media rather than rely on the opinions of others. On social media, mass media can be easily
discerned to the untrained eye. However, it takes a lot of time and effort to educate those who are having
trouble confirming a post. The Filipino youth must have the ability to disseminate factual information so
that Filipinos can be both politically correct and aware of the travesties that are currently ravaging in the
society. This is done in the hope that the misinformation that surrounds every societal convention can be
eradicated.

Looking for facts is comparable to an easter egg hunt in which it requires meticulous effort to actually
find a reliable source. From political posts down to daily news, one should be able to discern which are
fake and which are factual. An easy way to do this practice is to look for references. See if these
references are reflected on the statements provided in the text. References are usually provided by
journalists who have been immersed in the field of media and are aware of what news outlets to trust.
Their word is security, we must listen to them and not to naysayers who just blabble opinions.

It is vital that we educate individuals to be cautious in the information they witness on social media sites.
Remember that alterations, fake news, trolls are produced every day to hypnotize the perception of its
helpless victims. Bear in mind that a fact check must be upheld for one's safety. The internet will liberate
you in more ways than one. However, let us not forget that social media, although can be accessed in the
simplest of ways, is not for the faint-hearted. Devoting oneself in an intangible metaverse comes with a
price.
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Message to the Professor

Sir Stranger,

For me, this subject is a hard one for me, due to lack of information that I get every time we meet,
a lot of readings that we should read, and unfortunately – having classes at 7 am whether it’s face-to-face
or synchronous. This subject tested my strength as a student, my patience, determination, and how
hardworking I am. This has not been an easy ride for me, hence it also tested how strong my mental
health is. However, this subject taught me how to become a great student and doing those things
(hardwork and etc.) are the bare minimum that we can give to repay the hardwork that you spent for us.
It is true that this subject is hard, but I am still grateful that we were able to share memories together, and
the considerations that you give to us. The memories whether it’s good or bad will forever be engraved in
my heart.