Activism beyond the streets: Examining social media usage and youth activism in the Philippines

Abstract

Activism has gone beyond the streets. Not only has social media connected billions of people worldwide, but it has also provided opportunities for activists to reach a broader audience and altered the way political participation is exercised. This paper will apply the uses and gratifications framework and seek to understand how young Filipino activists utilize social media platforms amid two critical junctures: a strongman at the helm of the government and a virus that has been inundating the world with uncertainties. Three general points will be discussed: digital activism before and during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte; utility of social media platforms in the contemporary period; and the perils and limitations of digital activism. Further explorations of the digital environment are imperative, particularly on how it can be maximized for more meaningful engagements and reduce, if not eliminate, its deleterious impacts.