Social Media Reshapes Japan Politics Influencing Elections

Social media has become a significant influence in Japanese politics, shifting the main source of political information from newspapers and TV to the Internet. Despite this, political participation remains low, particularly among young voters, who often feel disconnected from traditional politics and skeptical about the impact of their vote. The Internet and social platforms, however, offer new avenues for political engagement by allowing users to connect with like-minded individuals and explore issues independently, though this also risks creating echo chambers. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the 2025 midterm elections revealed that a large portion of voters made last-minute decisions, underscoring the importance of credible news media and polling for public understanding amid widespread misinformation and political confusion. In conflict zones such as India and Pakistan, media plays a dual role in shaping public perception by balancing factual reporting and propaganda, with wartime journalism historically influencing public opinion and accountability, though modern embedded journalism faces challenges to independence. These developments highlight the critical role media and information dissemination play globally in shaping political engagement, public trust, and democracy.