The Influence of Social Media Usage Intensity on Student Political Participation in the 2024 Election

Abstract

The 2024 General Election is a crucial momentum for strengthening democracy in Indonesia, with social media serving as a primary channel for disseminating political information. College students, as a digitally active segment of young voters, have a high level of interaction with social media, potentially influencing their political participation. This study aims to analyze the influence of the intensity of social media use on student political participation in the 2024 General Election. The research method used was a quantitative approach with a survey design. Data were obtained by distributing questionnaires to students from various universities in Indonesia. Simple linear regression analysis was used to test the relationship between variables. The results showed that the intensity of social media use had a positive and significant effect on student political participation. This finding indicates that the more frequently students access social media for political information, the higher their level of involvement in political activities, such as discussions, digital campaigns, and participation in elections. This study emphasizes the importance of digital and political literacy to encourage healthy and critical political participation among college students.