Political Participation of the Youths Through Social Media in Ifugao

This study examined the electoral participation of the youth through social media in Ifugao during the 2019 local and national elections, focusing on Generation Y and Generation Z. The research aimed to assess the extent of social media utilization in obtaining information about electoral candidates and issues, as well as the respondents’ practices in validating and sharing information obtained online. The study was conducted in response to the increasing influence of social media, particularly Facebook, on youth political participation and the growing concern regarding the spread of fake news during elections. Using a descriptive research design, the study found that the youth in Ifugao highly utilized social media in accessing information related to national and local electoral issues, but showed low utilization in gathering information regarding electoral candidates. Results also revealed that respondents had low levels of validating and sharing information from social media platforms. Furthermore, the findings indicated that there was no significant difference between Generation Y and Generation Z in terms of social media usage and responses to electoral information and issues. The study concluded that Facebook plays a significant role in shaping youth awareness of electoral issues; however, the lack of information validation practices exposes the youth to misinformation and fake news. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended the establishment of legitimate social media platforms, the formation of youth voter education programs, partnerships between the Municipality of Lamut and Ifugao State University, and the creation of initiatives to monitor and combat the spread of fake news in the province. The study emphasized the importance of promoting responsible social media usage and strengthening media literacy among the youth to encourage informed political participation.