Even before the global pandemic came, Social Media somewhat already served as an effective tool for electoral campaigning.
With its far-reaching accessibility and convenience, information such as political reforms and the credentials of a running candidate can abruptly become known and reach a larger audience and vicinity. Thus, motivating, recruiting, and empowering new supporters wouldn't be a problem.
So far, the Philippines have consecutively topped worldwide on a survey for having the most numbered active social media users for the last four years.
In today's time,since pandemic is still evident, hence the prohibition of formal in person campaigns resulting in this avenue is being heavily relied on.
It can usually manage to quickly shape one's national opinion out of the primarily evident hyper-interactivity of people in digital space now.
Meanwhile, updates on current local events or influential figures can quickly appear if you consecutively scroll or type a hashtag related to it in your newsfeed on social networking sites. Most Internet-based information spreads out even with just one type, click of the react, comment, or share button on a publicly posted photo, video, or article.
However, this is not only limited to its advantages being mentioned.It also creates a medium of free expression of ideas, which gradually highlights the relevance of free speech and press freedom in contemporary Philippine society.
Aside from having the capacity to foster community political engagement, it may also increase the citizen's appreciation for democracy itself.
However,there is no doubt that political actors might be more than willing to do anything to capture the public's attention and confuse their socio-political views in recent times.
An example would be negative campaigning, which virtually brings a toxic environment to the next level. Although it's a part of an electoral exercise that helps voters evaluate whom to vote for, it still prevents aspirants from stating their sincere-to-goodness plan for urgent issues subsiding nationwide.
Facebook's newsfeed is included too as a prone source to much misinformation due to the inevitable existence of trolls. They usually gather on online private spaces like this and other instant messaging apps to amplify derogatory fake news to other rivalries in either field of business, showbiz, or politics.
Although having been surrounded by these actions can initially create a toxic environment on Social Media, the hope for solidarity remains to have more blatantly prevailed in this digital age. Its provision of unlimited information seems to inherently challenge a person to practice digital citizenship while engaging in issues of society, politics, and government.
Somehow,it can really be pivotal towards making better individualistic and collectivistic decisions in life.
Thus, it is necessary to start undergoing a critical assessment in one’s level of socio-political consciousness every now and then.
A reminder for everyone too that there is always a need for responsible voting.It is not just a part of one’s civic duty but rather the future and progress of the country lies particularly in the hands of its people.
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