Abstract:
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are increasingly being utilized as avenues for political expression and discourse. In 2017, when a video of 17-year old Kian delos Santos being shot and killed by the police was exposed. Netizens lashed out on social media. They blamed the police, as well as the president’s controversial war on drugs. Copies of the footage, as well as photos of Kian’s interment schedule were shared on social media, often accompanied with expressions of anger and dismay. A year later,a similar response was observed. Filipino social media users, or “netizens”, as well as political organizations like the League of Filipino Students attacked a prominent corporation for its treatment of labor, and made #BoycottNutriasia trend on Twitter. Recognizing the continuing relevance of social media to Philippine politics, this paper looks into the Facebook use of political organizations, especially as it relates to membership political empowerment. The study analyzes the case of NNARA Youth UPM, a youth lead, long-term issue based, political interest group.It looks at the processes regarding content creation and dissemination on Facebook, within the organization, as well as the acceptability of more autonomous forms of support and participation. It was found that in their use of Facebook, the organization uses a mix of traditional-bureaucratic organizational procedures and “movement-like” features, allowing their members more autonomy in freedom regarding their participation. Curiously, it was also found that in-spite of the desirability and acceptability of more autonomous forms of participation and support, such as adding one’s insight to shared posts, and posting about one’s own opinions or experiences in support of the organization, members often opt not to engage in this kind of participation.
