JULIA ORTIZ LUIS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

SAGABA, STO. DOMINGO NUEVA ECIJA

SOCIAL MEDIA’S INFLUENCE ON POLITICAL POLARIZATION AND

MISINFORMATION ON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF JULIA

ORTIZ LUIS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

A Research Presented to

The Faculty of Julia Ortiz Luis National High School

Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija

A Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for

Practical Research II

JONATHAN H. CABRERA
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

In today's digital era, social media platforms are our virtual

gathering places. We use them to chat with friends, share funny videos,

and even discuss politics. But have you ever wondered how social media

affects our political beliefs? And what about all those crazy stories

and news articles you see online – are they always true? Well, this

research is all about finding answers to these questions.

Imagine scrolling through your social media feed. Do you notice

that most of what you see agrees with what you already believe? This is

called an "echo chamber," and it can make our beliefs even stronger. But

does it also make us more divided as a society? Scholars such as Barberá

(N.d.) and Flaxman et al. (2016) have explored these questions, each

offering their own insights and findings.

Now, think about the times when you've seen a news story on social

media that seemed too wild to be real. Sometimes, it turns out that it

really is too good to be true. This is called "misinformation," and it

spreads fast, confusing lots of people. Vosoughi et al. (2018) studied

how false information moves online, and we want to dig deeper into their

research.
 Why is all of this important for us as high school students? Well,

social media isn't just for fun – it's where we get a lot of our news

and even form our political opinions. So, understanding how social media

affects our beliefs and why it sometimes tricks us is essential for

being informed citizens.

The impact of social media on political polarization and

misinformation has become a subject of growing concern and debate in

recent years. As more and more people turn to social media for news and

political discussions, understanding its influence is crucial. By

examining the role of social media in shaping political beliefs and its

contribution to the spread of misinformation.

Throughout this research, we're diving into what experts have

discovered about social media's impact on politics and misinformation.

We'll explore theories, look at real examples, and maybe even come up

with ideas to make our online world a bit more trustworthy. Join me on

this exciting journey as we uncover the secrets of how social media

influences our political views and the news we encounter.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In the age of digital information, it is imperative to understand

the dynamics of social media's influence on political misinformation and

its consequences for trust in democratic institutions and political

behaviors among diverse backgrounds. To address this complex issue, this

research seeks to answer the following key questions:

1.Description of Respondents

1.1 Age

1.2 Strand

2. How does social media contribute to the spread of political

misinformation?

3. How does this influence trust in democratic institutions?

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Selective Exposure Theory (Klapper, 1960; Katz & Lazarsfeld, 1955)

This theory posits that individuals tend to expose themselves to

information that aligns with their existing beliefs and values. It

suggests that people actively select media content that reinforces their

preexisting opinions, contributing to the formation of echo chambers on

social media.
 Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) Social Identity

Theory focuses on how individuals categorize themselves into various

social groups and how group identities influence their behavior. In the

context of social media and politics, it helps explain how people's

online identities and affiliations can influence their political beliefs

and actions.

These two theories will guide our exploration of how social media

users selectively expose themselves to information and how their social

identities play a role in shaping their political attitudes and

susceptibility to misinformation.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This research focuses on the social media‘s influence on political

polarization and the spread of misinformation among senior high school

students under the academic track of Julia Ortiz Luis National High

School. It primarily investigates how exposure to political content on

social media platforms affects their political beliefs, trust in

democratic institutions, and political behaviors.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research matters to many people, including students, teachers,

parents, and more.

For Students: If you're a high school student, this study helps you

understand how social media can change your political beliefs. It's like

a guide to being smarter when you see political stuff online.

For Schools: Teachers and school leaders can use this research to know

how social media affects students' political ideas. This can help them

teach students to tell what's true and what's not online.

For Parents: Parents can learn from this study how social media affects

their kids' views on politics. It can help them guide their children to

use social media wisely and think critically about what they see online.

For Future Researchers: People who want to study this topic in the

future can build on this research. They can explore more ideas and

discover even better ways to use social media for education and

understanding.

For Policymakers: Those who make rules about school and the internet can

use this study to make sure students get the right info about social

media and learn to think well.

For Social Media Companies: The people who run social media sites can

learn from this study how they affect what students think about

politics. They can use this to make social media better and teach young

people how to know what's true online.

For Everyone: In a world where social media has a big say in politics,

this study helps us understand how it works. It shows how social media

changes what we think about politics and how we can use it in a good

way.

This study aims to help high school students and others to

understand social media and politics. It wants to help people use the

internet better, especially young folks, and provide valuable insights

for educators, parents, future researchers, and policymakers.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

For better understanding of this study, the following terms is

conceptually defined.

Echo Chambers - Echo chambers are online spaces or communities where

individuals are primarily exposed to information and opinions that

reinforce their existing beliefs, creating an environment that limits

exposure to diverse perspectives.

Misinformation - Misinformation is operationally defined as false or

inaccurate information shared or spread on social media platforms with

or without the intent to deceive, leading to the dissemination of

factually incorrect content.

Political Polarization - In this research, political polarization is

defined as the growing divergence of political beliefs and attitudes

between groups or individuals, often resulting in increased ideological

distance and reduced willingness to compromise.

Selective Exposure Theory - The Selective Exposure Theory posits that

individuals tend to seek out and engage with information that aligns

with their existing beliefs and attitudes, thereby reinforcing their

preexisting viewpoints.

Social Identity Theory - Social Identity Theory, as applied in this

research, explores how individuals' identification with specific social

groups, such as political affiliations or online communities, influences

their behavior and interactions on social media.

Social Media - For the purpose of this study, social media refers to

online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, where

users can create, share, and interact with content, including text,

images, and videos.