Amid the ever-evolving academic landscape, students are expected not only to be learners but also contributors to the advancement of knowledge through scientific publications. This is precisely what Sabila Riska Bianti, a student of Communication Science at Universitas Padjadjaran, has accomplished.
Sabila successfully published her scientific article titled “The Influence of Social Media on Online Political Participation of Novice Voters on the Island of Java Ahead of the 2024 Election.” The article was published in Jurnal Politik Pemerintahan Dharma Praja, a nationally accredited Sinta 4 journal published by IPDN.
The study aims to assess the extent to which social media exposure influences the online political participation of first-time voters in Java ahead of the 2024 General Election. Employing a quantitative approach and survey method, Sabila collected data from nearly 400 respondents who were novice voters in the region.
“During that time, the topic of elections was widely discussed, and Gen Z was highly active on social media. That’s what inspired me to explore this issue,” said Sabila. Although she faced challenges in collecting respondents, these obstacles were overcome through teamwork and collective questionnaire distribution strategies.
The findings reveal a significant influence of social media exposure on the political participation of novice voters. Factors such as frequency of social media use, types of content consumed, and intensity of political news searches were found to affect respondents’ engagement in online political activities such as commenting on political content or creating election-related posts.
For fellow students who wish to publish their research, Sabila offers several tips
- Choose a topic with high urgency and relevance
- Use methods aligned with your research goals
- Apply appropriate and relevant theoretical frameworks
- Consider the technical and practical feasibility of your field study
Sabila’s success proves that scientific publication is not an impossible feat for students. With the willingness to learn, collaborate, and stay consistent, meaningful contributions to the academic world can indeed be achieved. [Ed]