Digital Literacy and Social Media Engagement: Examining The Impact on Political Participation In Indonesia

Abstract

This study delves into the transformative role of digital media in accentuating political participation in the context of Makassar, particularly focusing on the upcoming 2024 elections. Employing Slovin's formula with a 5% margin of error, a sample size of approximately 400 eligible voters was derived from Makassar's voting population of 1,036,965. These respondents were carefully chosen through stratified random sampling to ensure diverse representation. The regression analysis revealed that digital literacy significantly boosts online political engagement, with about 67% of the variation in online political participation being explained by the model's predictors. The findings offer both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, they provide a comprehensive understanding of digital participation dynamics. Practically, they emphasize the necessity to equip Makassar's eligible voters with essential digital literacy skills, ensuring more robust democratic processes. The research also underscores the potential challenges intrinsic to the digital political landscape, suggesting the need for future studies to delve deeper into the nuances of digital platforms and their impact on political participation.