Keyboard Warriors to Real-World Activists: Does Social Media Platforms Actually Change the University Student’s Opinion

Abstract

This study explores the role of social media in shaping public opinion towards political, educational, and economic issues among the university students. The study aims to investigate the use of social media and how it builds various opinions among the respondents. Using a qualitative research approach and phenomenological research design, the researcher collected data through simple random sampling technique from twelve respondents by utilizing an interview guide. The thematic analysis method was employed to interpret the data. We extracted the themes from the collected data, such as use of social media and public opinion towards political issues, educational issues, and economic issues. Findings reveal that social media significantly contributes to opinion formation, offering a platform for debate, news consumption, and exposure to diverse viewpoints. Respondents reported using social media not only for entertainment but also for learning, networking, and activism.

Keywords: Social Media, Public Opinion, Educational Issues, Political Issues, Economic Issues