THE norm for talking about the elections no longer stays within family dinner tables, hangouts with friends, or your local “Marites.” Social media is where conversations are and is an integral part of this year’s elections.

The Campaign rallies have been a trend where people flocked on-ground and as e-rallies on Facebook Live and YouTube, tying the traditional and the new, where people connect and show support for their preferred candidates. People share their experiences on Instagram through posts or the “Add Yours” Story feature, which builds communities on the platform. On the other hand, we distinctly saw election-related conversations on Twitter during Comelec’s Presidential and Vice Presidential debates. The first debates occurred last March 19 and 20, where 2.2 million Tweets globally were generated. 1.3 million Tweets stirred following April 3’s second debate.

Social media users continue to connect and share opinions on election-related topics using hashtags. Viral videos of candidates emerge on TikTok, gaining them popularity among the younger audience. Netizens have also spread their views about the elections on the short-form video platform with hashtags to better reach those they want their message to cross. Twitter has amplified this by launching Pinoy-inspired customized emojis for the duration of the election season. Applying #PilipinasDebates2022 and #AskPilipinasDebates activates an emoji inspired by the microphone used during debates within the Philippine flag. #NLE2022, #2022NLE, #BumotoKa, #Halalan2022, #Piniliay2022, #HIJAlalan2022, #PHVote, #PHVoteResults, and #WeDecide will feature a ballot box set in front of the Philippine flag signifying the united hope of Filipinos for a clean and safe election. Lastly, #VoteSafePilipinas exhibits a silhouette of a female who represents our Inang Bayan.

Since the pandemic, everyone had to adapt to the new normal. It was compulsory to stay at home with the uncertainty of Covid-19 and adjust to the enhanced use of technology and the digital landscape. Friends and loved ones were no longer a call away to meet, but that was when social media became the gateway to mingling with people. With everybody still being amid the pandemic and the elections incoming, we are now seeing the new normal of campaigning and voicing out our opinions for the future of our country.

Still, some are more familiar with utilizing tech and social platforms than others. The younger millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and “Generation Z” (born between 1997 and 2012) are vital for #Halalan2022, as they make up the majority of social media users, first-time voters, and over 30 million of the electorate. Here’s the Comelec’s voter figures by age: 18 to 33, 33 percent; 31 to 59, 52 percent; 60 and above, 14 percent.

Filipinos display their creativity on social media, whether to express their solid voices or make lighthearted comments in these times of the general elections. Moreover, for every event associated with the 2022 elections, multiple hashtags and trends pop up on digital platforms. We are sure to see an abundance of topics, trends, opinions, the inventiveness of the Filipinos, and conversations on social media leading up to the historical inauguration day on June 30, 2022.


 

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