Social Media: It's Vitality to the Filipino Youth

Majority of the articles I published from over a year ago were educational-based. I'd define my account, in the previous version at least, as a compilation of essays and course materials, but from today onwards, I'd like this account to be more interactive on various topics.

Social Media and It's Chokehold to Society

In the modern times, humans have become tethered to technology. Technology in turn is interrelated with social media, more specifically, the latter is codependent to the former.

It is indeed more convenient to be active on social media - you have a diverse range of entertainment, information, and it's even easier to build and form relationships (platonic, work-wise, or romantic). It's faster to find job offers, reach out to potential clients, follow certain trends, adapt to certain lifestyles that we believe to be beneficial for us, and just a ton more opportunities. Being active on social media gives you more exposure to potential greatness and success.

Bretman Rock, Mimiyuuuh, and Zeinab Harake are among some of the most well-known and successful Filipino social media influencers. Due to their personalities and vigor, over the years, they have each accumulated their own fan base. Their appeal to the masses continue to sky rocket until today and their opportunities with television projects, sponsorships, businesses/marketing, and much much more, are greatly influenced by their social media presence - their platform. This success continues to encourage people to try vlogging as well.

Social Media as an Escape Route from Poverty

Due to this success, social media has become glorified as an active response to escape poverty and to attain one's own financial aspirations. As if by pursuing vlogging, gaining followers, and being 'big' on social media, life will become better or easier. This may be the case for some, especially those who have done their best and solely base their content on harmless or unobjectionable topics, but unfortunately, people are also glued to controversy, and some vloggers use this to serve the bait.

The 'Pulubi Pranks' on YouTube may be entertaining and humorous for some but I, among with some other people, find it unsettling. I know it's meant to show the reality of the various reactions in how people treat or see beggars (like a social experiment), but it typically oppresses these people - by pretending to be 'taong graza' with exaggerated clothing and hairdo and overt display of movements, these vloggers provoke their audience to gain reactions from them. They are also making light of the serious issues that connotates around these people's vulnerabilities (both the audience and the Pulubis/Taong Grasa), and worse, monetizing this for their own benefit. Majority of the 'Taong Grasa' that we encounter on the streets suffer from untreated mental health issues, financial problems, and lack of family support - they remain that way while vloggers make profits out of them.

Content: How it Molds the Youth

Now I'm not implying that I see these type of vloggers as lowlives, I'm just wondering why that type of content continues to be replicated by another set of vloggers. There's plenty of harmless, inoffensive, and comedic content. I know some would think "Why does she have to make it seem like such a serious issue? It's just for laughs and giggles." or "She's just here to ruin the fun. These volggers are doing their best to make a living at least." Perhaps it's a trivial matter to them, perhaps it's simple, and I get that, I completely understand, but I won't support it.

Filipino comedy? What else is our humor if not degrading or oppressive in some way? But do remember that the youth mimics, they learn by adapting. If they observe how adults act, laugh at the jokes adults laugh at, talk offensively on matters they observe adults do because they believe it won't do any harm, they'll eventually grow into the same versions as these adults. People change, correct, but people also start by learning. The youth, in their innocence, can only learn what you show them.

Social Media as a Platform for Debate and Criticism

Schools, workplaces, and even marketing strategies are centralized on the usage of technology and social media. Preeminently, they have become more important during the pandemic.

In the educational sectors, traditional learning was altered - the students and teachers were prompt to resort to online and blended learning. A tidal wave of protest flooded social media when it was confirmed by DepEd ('Department of Education' - the Philippine government's major and executive department of basic education) that there will be no academic freeze amidst Covid-19.

The news drew a mixed reaction from Gen Z and from the millennials and boomers . Where the former protested for reasons regarding connectivity, gadgets and financial means necessary for online classes, and concerns for both mental and physical issues, the latter on the other hand, claimed how the youth of today's time 'love to complain' and even further suggesting that instead of being vulnerable and rebellious to this change of academic setting, they should be thankful for the opportunities, and most especially because they have it easier compared to them.

Now I'm not generalizing that every person who belongs to these groups share a universal perspective, but it's through this indiffirence that we witness two contrasting concepts rooted from age, belief system, values, and even social upbringing, merge because of social media.

Sure, technology has made research easier and tasks done faster, but only to a certain extent. That does not necessarily mean that students of today's time have only relied to the internet and that complaining would only show the lack of gratitude to such privilege when in reality, online and blended learning require so much more especially with the financial and livelihood consequences, and additional responsibilities brought by the pandemic. Some would have seen it as a privilege but some may have seen it as a burden.

Politics

Most especially in the Philippine Politics, these debates and criticism continue to grow. Before social media became as prominent as it is today, the youth were mostly unaware, or if not unaware, showed no interest in politics. Even I as a child I thought it was only for adults - that we should not interfere with their choices in the political affairs because after all, adults knew best.

Of course, the youth dominates social media and a group can only be formed if people unite. There is a variety of videos on different candidates and some swarm to support these candidates while some swarm to ridicule and throw hate comments - heavily implying the other party's 'poor choice.' We are all spectators, all part of a crowd.

Now, everywhere on social media, the youth are becoming more and more active and responsive in politics. I see Filipino TikTokers promoting their own respective candidates - why everyone should vote for them, further informing the audience with their advocacies, plans, and achievements in the government and the Filipino community. They believe these politicians are the best choices in helping not just the country and the people, but also with global opportunities. Some, however, would take this as a 'paid advertisement strategy' or a promotional stunt instead of a service based on sheer pure intention to inform the masses. The more people are informed, the more they are influenced to choose a respective party list/candidate, after all, every vote matters.

I believe these debates, criticism, and arguments on TikTok and other platforms in social media are beneficial for attractiing more potential voters. I do know some arguments become more personal and inoffensive - I highly do not condone that. In light of all these, I do appreciate the power that social media has to the Filipino Youth because it is through these platforms that they become more and more aware of news and current happenings. This knowledge makes them powerful, and what's one thing boomers and millenials dislike? 'Opinionated teenagers' they'd say but 'firm and unafraid' I'd say.