The Influence of Social Media on the Political Awareness of the AB-Political Science Students

Of North Luzon Philippines State College

JOEY I. ABELLA
Graduate School, MA-Political Science Student
University of Cordilleras, Baguio City

2018
Background of the Study

Nowadays the world has witnessed the effects of social media in many areas. Social
media served millions of users from all over the world can communicate with each other in
various media forms such as photos, videos, blogs, live broadcast etc. The internet penetration,
social media production and consumption have increased dramatically all over the world. This
increase has affected the politics in most parts of the world in many ways. Social media became
a tool for the students to their research and assignments and has become a costless and extremely
effective tool in reaching mass audiences with political purposes.

Universities and Colleges are considered the most important institutions, which work on
raising the student’s level of political awareness so that they will become responsible citizens
and vigilant to protect the democracy. The degree of political awareness of the students in any
community affects the development of the state. According to the Rizalian principle, “Youths are
the hoped of the fatherland”, the more youth in the country is aware of his abilities and
potentials, so that the more contribution is manifested in the field of development. Political
awareness has a regulatory framework that influences educational institutions as a leading role in
the development, aiming at the creation of national development.

The North Luzon Philippines State College is a newly established College in Northern
Luzon by the virtue of Republic Act 10085 (An Act Separating UNP-Candon from UNP-Vigan
and the Establishment of NLPSC) it was approved on May 5, 2011. The College is offering 8
programs which includes Bachelor of Secondary Education and Elementary Education, BS in
Midwifery, BS Criminology, BS Business Administration, BS Office Administration, BS
Computer Science and AB political Science.

As of now, the College has no policy on College Admission Test (CAT) so the students
are free to enroll on their chosen field, however the average grade during high school will be the
basis on selecting their course. The cut off grades for Political Science course is 75 percent and it
is expected that the students have poor academic performance as it was manifested in their
grades. During the enrolment the researcher interviewed the enrollees on why they took up the
course their answer no choice. The College also implement Retention Policy which means that
for those that have been kick out from their college they will be transferred in this course. This is
the reason why the researcher prompted to study the political awareness of the AB Political
Science Students through the use of social media in order to find out whether they are inclined or
interested in the field of politics.

The findings of the study is very relevant to the administrators so that they can able to
formulate the appropriate curriculum they will offer to the students and this study will assess the
capability of the political Science students in their political awareness.

The study of political awareness is needed for any democratic political construction that
respects human rights and fundamental liberties. Hence, the study on the influence of social
media to the political awareness of the students is to uplift and enhanced the potentials and
abilities of the students and to become aware of their political environment. According to
Aristotle, the father of Political Science he said that “Man by nature is a political animal”, all
people from all walks of life are being affected to the political system of our country. The youth
are the tomorrow’s leader, they contribute to the nation-building. If the students are aware of
their political environment they could become a great tool for change and they can became the
guardian’s peace and justice.

The study may be considered the lead in examining the curriculum and strategies in
teaching political Science in the College. The social media serves as the connection of the
students to the world especially in the field of politics. If the students are politically aware it can
enhanced their learning process, since most of the subjects of Political Science are concerned
about politics.

The importance and significance of the study is to find out the level of political
awareness of the political science students whether they inclined with their course and to gather
pertinent data for the improvement of the Political Science curriculum so that it will aligned the
mission, vision, goals and objectives of the college that is to provide a quality and globally
competitive graduates of Political Science Course.

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework

Althubetat and Jarrar (2013) cited that awareness in the original Latin means knowing
things on an ongoing basis. Francis bacon was the first to use this word in 1600. It was also used
by John Locke in his Philosophical disputes. Awareness is interpreted as ideas that pass in
human mind, and in the early 19th century, and in psychology, it has emerged into existence,
which was identified as science of Consciousness, and thus used the term to include all the
sensation and mental images, thoughts, desires and emotions.

Political awareness is the result of social development due to human need to prepare the
tools to interact with nature, so that man was able to distinguish between what is essential and
non-essential and demonstrate causes of the phenomena, being aware of the relationship of the
environment. The concept of political socialization is associated mainly to the subject of study of
student’s political awareness and the concept of socialization refers to the process of formation
of the political community configuring in terms of values, norms and patterns of behavior that
are the outcome of a citizen with a certain political consciousness.

Walker et. al. (2015) pointed out that more people are using internet to gather information
and mostly students involved with Facebook were more likely to be involved in political action
in some form.

Yunus (2013) defined social media as a group of internet-based applications that build on
the ideological and technological foundations and that allow the creation and exchange of User
Generated Content. Thus social media is a platform where the users are both producers and
consumers of the content. Video sharing websites, social networking sites, discussion forums,
blogs are well known examples of social media. Social media has changed the media perception
that people had before.
 One of the most important outcomes of the increase in the social media use and
development of social media technologies can be seen in the areas of politics. As the strength of
social media in reaching mass audiences is comprehended. In many parts of the world, mastering
social media is considered as a strong advantage for politicians because of its costless means of
political advertisements and campaigns.

Vasile (2014) said that the rapid growth of social media in recent years means people are
exposed to an abundance of information every day, but there is little research on the effects such
exposure has on political interests and engagement. The two most popular social media outlets,
Facebook and Twitter provide vast amounts of political information.

Previous research has shown that aspects of one’s life can influence that person’s
political interest, political cognition and attitudes. This process is called political socialization
and it takes place during the impressionable years, specifically between 17 and 25 years. Youth
today frequently get their political information from social media rather than traditional media.
The information given is more interactive, user centered, briefer, easier to process and visually
attractive. People are increasingly posting online their views concerning politics and social
issues, sharing news articles, following political figures, watching videos connected to politics.
Use of social media can mean more exposure to information and also a higher interests in
politics. Therefore, it can be concluded that social media is suitable to spread knowledge among
the youth and implicitly increase their political interest.
 Paradigm

Input Process Output Outcome

1. Profile of the 1. Identified the 1. Interpret and
Student- Profile of the analyze the profile
Respondents Students of the respondents
a. age,
b. sex, 2. Identified the 2. Interpret and A Proposed
c. religion, frequency of the analyze the Seminar on the
d. weekly use of social media frequency of using Responsible
allowance, social media Use of Social
e. monthly family 3. Identified the
level of political 3. Interpret and Media in
income,
f. available gadget awareness of the analyze the political Influencing the
use in internet, students awareness of the Political
g. average internet students Awareness of
use time a day, and 4. Identified the
the Students
h. favorite effect or influence 4. Interpret and
website? of social media to analyze the
2. How often the use the political influence or effect
of Social media? awareness of the of social media to
3. Level of Political students the political
Awareness awareness of the
4. The effect of Social 5. Correlate the
students
media to the political profile and
awareness of the perception of the 5. Interpret the
students respondents correlation
5. Significant
relationship between 6. Formulating
profile and level of findings, conclusion
awareness of the and
students recommendations.
Statement of the Problem
This study aims to determine the Influence of Social Media on the Political Awareness of
the AB Political Science Students of North Luzon Philippines State College.

Specifically it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is profile of the student-respondents of NLPSC in terms of the following:
a. age,
b. sex,
c. religion,
d. weekly allowance,
e. monthly family income,
f. available gadget use in internet,
g. average internet use time a day, and
h. favorite website?

2. How often do you use the social media applications?

3. What is the level of political awareness of the respondents through the use of social media
along?
a. local political issues,
b. national political issues, and
c. international political issues

4. How does social media influence the political awareness of the students?

5. What is the significant relationship between the profile and their level of political awareness of
the respondents?