The Influence of social media and Public Policy on Public Political Participation in Handling COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study from Indonesian Domestic and Overseas Youngsters’ Perspective

ABSTRACT

The social media usage was increased during the COVID-19 pandemic because most of population was isolated and were working form their homes. Consequently, the social media usage was increased to get information around the globe. Hence, social media might be a potential solution for problems of political participation. However, if the youngsters are not actively involved on social media, then they could not get update about the political activities that could reduce the public participation in political activities. Similarly, not proper addressing the public policies could also reduce the participations of public in political activities. Therefore, the study objective remained to study the effect of social media, public policy on public political participation in handling covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. For this objective, the data was collected from 600 domestic and overseas youngsters of Indonesia by using a convenient sampling technique which shows 60 percent response rate. Using cross sectional research design and quantitative research approach. The Partial Least Square (PLS)-Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) results had shown that social media was positively and significantly effect to public political participation while public policy was not positively influence to public political participation. Such discoveries can contribute a body of literature that could help to the researcher to conduct research in future. The research can also help to the politicians to be aware of the significance of social media to increase the participation in public political activities. The research limitations as well as future directions were also discussed at the study end. © 2021, Institute for Development and International Relations. All rights reserved.