Shaped by the feed: The lived experiences of Filipino Gen Z first-time voters in social media echo chambers and political participation

Date of Publication

12-1-2025

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Sciences major in Organizational and Social Systems Development

Subject Categories

Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Media

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Behavioral Sciences

Thesis Advisor

Czarina Labayo-Prieto

Defense Panel Chair

Myla M. Arcinas

Defense Panel Member

Zaldy C. Collado

Abstract (English)

This paper explores the influence of social media echo chambers on the political participation of first-time Gen Z Filipino voters. Ever since the rise of the internet, concerns have been raised as to its effect on social media’s ability to influence the opinions and beliefs of the general public. Focusing on their lived experiences, the nature of their social media interaction and their resulting political participation, this study seeks to explain how social media echo chambers can have a decisive influence on the political behavior of first-time voters, which are mostly young and impressionable. Set in the context of the recently-concluded 2025 elections, it further aims to show how such influence can decide the fate of an election, and whether that is a good or bad sign for the state of a democratic society. The results of the study were quite mixed but ultimately confirmed the hypothesis of this study, as while there were other factors involved in the political participation of the respondents, such as family and moral values, social media still played a significant role in their subsequent political behavior. They also mentioned their preference for mutual respect and neutrality while discussing political issues and their previous experiences that shaped the manner in which they voted. This clearly highlights the strong influence that social media echo chambers have on the political opinions, ideals and values of the general public, and the dire need to come up with measures to limit it.

Keywords: social media, echo chambers, political participation, first-time voting, Gen Z, lived experiences

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Ang papel na ito ay sinusuri ang mga impluwensya ng mga online na echo chamber sa politikal na partisipasyon ng mga first-time Gen Z Filipino voters. Mula sa paglaganap ng paggamit ng internet, madaming tao ang nagtatanong tungkol sa epekto nito sa kakayahan ng social media na baguhin o impluwensyahan ang mga opinyon o paniniwala ng mga Pilipino. Nakapokus ang papel na ito sa kanilang karanasan noong first time nila nagboto, ang kanilang interaksyon sa social media, at ang naging impluwensya nito sa politikal na partisipasyon nila, sapagkat ang layunin nito ay ipaliwanag kung paano magkaroon ng malakas na impluwensya ang mga social media echo chamber sa pagboto ng mga first-time voters. Kapag pinagsaalang-alang ang 2025 Midterm Elections na kakatapos lang, pinapakita din kung paano maimpluwensiya ang resulta ng mga eleksyon katulad nito, at kung ito ay mabuti o masama para sa estado ng demokratikong lipunan. Ang resulta ng research na ito ay mixed ngunit kinumpirma naman ang hypothesis, sapagkat bagama’t may iba pang dahilan na nakakaapekto sa politikal na partisipasyon ng mga respondente, katulad ng mga personal nilang moral na saysay o saysay ng pamilya, malaki pa rin ang impluwensya ng social media sa politikal na pag-uugali nila. Binanggit din nila ang kanilang tendency tungkol sa mutual na paggalang at hindi pagkampi sa paguusap tungkol sa mga isyung politikal, pati na rin ang mga karanasan nila na nakaimpluwensya sa pagboboto nila. Ito ay pinapakita ang malakas na impluwensya ng social media echo chamber sa mga politikal na opinyon ng mga tao, at kung bakit kailangan natin ng plano para ilimitahan ito.

Mga keyword: social media, echo chambers, political participation, first-time voting, Gen Z, lived experiences

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Social media; Political participation--Philippines; Voting--Philippines; Generation Z--Philippines

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Embargo Period

12-6-2025

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