Every February, Filipinos become nostalgic about revolution. Curiously, we commemorate People Power today like we lost it years ago. Maybe we have. But interestingly, the conditions that fuel revolutions persist. A pillaging elite oppressing the population. A corrupt government machinery plundering the beauty and bounty of the country.
Evidently, the revolutionary fire is now intensely burning amongst Gen Z and Millennial Filipinos. While we do not need to unsheathe our bolos, we do need to confront the enemy – dynastic politicians behind the pork barrel cartel. No need to tear up our cedulas or face tanks for this time, we can revolt as netizens.
The desired outcome is a polity that is unwilling to tolerate corruption. This is the cultural foundation necessary for true reform – a society where corruption is not just illegal, but socially unacceptable. Where the corrupt and their families are mercilessly pilloried on social media and in real life.
The pork barrel cartel has been exposed in a way that Filipinos can no longer ignore. Media is running round-the-clock coverage. The Ombudsman is aggressively pursuing cases rather than dismissing them. Civil society organizations mobilizing to keep public officials on their toes.
Indeed, if there was ever a time to push for societal transformation, it is now, when public anger is palpable, when corruption is the top national issue, and when ordinary citizens are clamouring for accountability.
Pertinently, a subfunction of social media is being a direct personal line to the powers-that-be, given that most politicians these days have a dedicated unit to monitor social media. For Filipino politicians, this method is definitely SOP because a large majority of the electorate spends a lot of time on it.
Politicians are active on social media primarily to measure the public pulse on issues of the day. But elected officials also use social media to gauge how they are viewed by voters. And since their staff regularly trawl all social media platforms, they have, in a way, created an online feedback mechanism.
For instance, the viral videos skewering so-called “nepo babies” – children of government officials and contractors flaunting lavish lifestyles while citizens wade through floodwaters. It is tempting to dismiss the trend as petty mockery, but in truth, these videos are an expression of discontent.
Arguably, the “nepo babies” videos played a deeper political role in unravelling the pork barrel cartel. Worth noting as well that the interview of the Discaya couple also triggered a social media tsunami that eventually brought down the “congtractors” syndicate.
These events demonstrate how public officials make political calculations as a reaction to public rage expressed creatively online. It was evident that the concerned officials felt threatened by the fury conveyed on social media. These were regular people venting their wrath in the most readily available medium, which then transformed disparate rants into one loud protest call.
It must be pointed out, however, that public officials were moved only because what they saw on social media was an organic and authentic display of pure rage. The administration had to act to prevent these raw emotions from boiling over to the physical world.
But had the posts been inauthentic, then they would have easily been dismissed as a mere disinformation campaign by political opponents. The very same unit dedicated to monitoring social media is also tasked with countering troll activities.
Thus, netizens must remember that posting like a troll will mean being treated like one. Ignored or blocked for good. Shitposting may get some likes and retweets, but these engagements will most likely be contained within the echo chamber.
It may also lead to bardagulan and bangayan with other trolls, which can amplify popularity but undercut credibility. In the end, shitposting just contributes to the pollution on social media. It does not open the minds of other users, including public officials.
On the other hand, posting views on social media with due regard to the online audience will likely be treated as organic and authentic. Like-minded users will surely find such a post and a genuine community can be forged from these encounters.
The collective sentiment can then snowball into a trending story that will soon reach the ears of those concerned. If the post was something about politics and governance, then politicians and public officials would surely hear about it and would likely be compelled to react accordingly.
Whether we like it or not, social media now shapes how people behave as voters. They have become the central interface for accessing information and engaging in politics. Social media today effuses a “times are a-changing” vibe. Netizens can either respond like a troll or use the platform as true revolutionaries.
