Xuen’s Blogging Struggles

Blogging to pass my degree. MDA20009 Digital Communities

[xuenstrugglestoblog]

You may be a keyboard warrior, but I still don't think you should mess with the BTS Army...

Yeah... The BTS fans are the scariest kind in all of K-pop fandom.. But we're gonna talk about K-pop fandom and how it (kinda) took over the world! Before that, K-pop is a genre of South Korean pop music that gained massive popularity internationally in recent years. You must have scrolled through Twitter, TikTok or Instagram and came across names such as BTS, BLACKPINK, IVE and etc. I think we can say that K-pop isn't just about music itself or the pretty idols- it's a culture itself.

I can say that's true because I was once neck deep in the BTS fandom to the point I went from reading those Jimin x YourName fanfictions to writing my own (lol I can't believe I'm just exposing this right here BUT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES RIGHT? #screwdigitalfootprint). We're gonna talk about how the K-pop fandom has grown into a global force that's changing the world on how we think about music, community and even social causes.

Can we just appreciate Felix's visuals, voice and part in Chef's Menu for one second before we go through the boring things.

Yup. That's enough.

1. The K-pop Fandom as a Cultural Powerhouse

Like I said previously, K-pop isn't just about music and idols anymore, it's culture, people. Fans don't just listen to K-pop now, they even embrace the Korean language, learn about Korean culture, have personal names for their fandoms (eg. Blackpink fans are called Blinks) and made slangs that are only used an known within the fandom. This may all seem so sudden this K-craze but honestly, it's no accident. Jang & Song (2017) noted how K-pop fandom encourages worldwide to connect with Korean culture, creating what's known as the "Korean Wave" or the "Hallyu". Most neck deep K-pop fans don't just listen to Korean songs, as I observed- they'd go all out to watch Korean dramas, eat Korean food and even downloaded Duolingo just to learn Korean for free (me. I did that. Now I'm on my 437 day streak). Thanks to the invention of the internet and social media, fans can join in this wave from anywhere in the world, creating a virtual space where cultural exchange happens every day.

Also, we should probably give K-pop fans kudos because if they are anything, it's organized and dedicated. Liu (2023) has observed that K-pop fans often organize streaming marathons, trend hashtags, and launch coordinated efforts to boost their favorite idol's visibility. This isn't random enthusiasm- K-pop fans are dead serious on making an impact and they know exactly how to do it. I know as well because in Korea when an idol has gone and finished their mandatory military service, fans would arrive in hoards at the entrance with signs and banners just to welcome their biases back into civilization (see this article of J-hope from BTS finishing his mandatory military service). Fans' dedication to make their idols trend and win awards is a huge factor of why this fandom is so powerful it's almost like a cult at times.

GIF break with this cute clap of J-Hope's Dreamworld MV.

OKay done.

2. Resolving Identity Crisis and Connecting with K-pop

For some fans, K-pop cured identity crisis provided them a sense of identity. Laffan (2020) explored this idea from a social identity perspective, noting that being part of a fan community can lead to some amazing psychological benefits. When fans connect over shared values and interests, they get this feeling of belonging. Imagine this : you feel out of place in your hometown but you found an online community where people just "get" you. That's what this K-pop fandom does for millions of people all over the world. However, it's definitely not just about connections, it's also about shared joy. Celebrating a comeback together, streaming the latest album release and commenting in real time via X, all this gives fans a collective experience. They celebrate together, go through things together and even at times, be there for each other when times are tough. Through these experiences, K-pop fandom creates an emotional bond that's hard to break.

Jang Won Young may have her fair share of haters but we can't deny those visuals, God Bless her mother for bringing such beauty into this world.

Moving ON,

3. The blue bird app X, Fandom Activities and the Digital World

Social media, such as X (formerly Twitter, RIP), is where K-pop fandom comes alive. I mean, yeah, they are other platforms out there such as Weverse and Instagram, but we're mainly going to focus on X. Maros & Abdul Basek (2022) observed how fans use platforms such as X to build strong online identity, sharing fan art, memes, fancams and more. X isn't just for you angry rants no more; for fans, it's a digital space where they find their people. I think I've mentioned that K-pop fans are extremely talented, organized and dedicated so you get so many cool things such as fan art, translations, fan-made lyric videos, fanfictions and etc. which strengthens their bonds with each other and their favorite groups. Plus, fandoms can overlap and co-exist such as Individual A loves Aespa and Le Sserafim so she makes a fanart that's like Aespa x Le Sserafim and it's really original and interesting, you can't really get things like that elsewhere.

I should probably mention as well that each K-pop group will have their own official fan club that works almost like a mini-organization which adds to my point that these fans are really organized. These fan clubs at times will coordinate global events (on and off line), set up streaming parties and even fundraise for relevant charities. Maros & Abdul Basek (2022) praised how these fan clubs show a level of coordination that goes way beyond casual fandom. These fans were willing to spend not just their money, but time, effort, blood, swear and tears (a little cheeky BTS slip right there) to make sure their idols succeed and stay visible globally.

I hope this makes you feel SPECIAL.

We're towards the end just a little more, please hang on.

4. The Good, the Bad, and the Banter

Like any big fandoms, the K-pop fandom has its challenges. I mean, it's pretty similar to how when a friend group gets too big, there's bound to be more disparities and fight breakouts. So there's this thing called "fan wars" which are rivalries between different fan groups, which can sometimes get a liiiiiittle bit intense. Liu (2023) points out that this competitive spirit is partially due to the way the industry ranks groups based on chart numbers, awards, and sales. While yes, competitions does spice things up, it can also create friction between fans who are each rooting for their favourites... Especially, those passionate ones...

Another known challenge is burnout. I myself, personally, experienced it, which is why I left the K-pop fandom back in 2019. The burnout is so real. Keeping up with the nonstop flow of content such as new albums, live streams, social media updates, new groups debuting, who has left group, who is dating this idol and who broke up, all this information can take up too much brain space at times. However, the new generation of K-pop fans are more open-minded, since I do noticed too that some within the fandom are starting to openly discuss these issues, advocating for balance, self-care and put your mental health first among other things. This is quite healthy and it shows how adaptable and self-aware the fandom can be. They're learning how to handle the pressures of fandom life and are even creating mini support systems within their communities (Laffan 2020). However, for my case, I do think I'm a little old for this since I juggle school, work and personal life balance (I play 3 sports) so I don't have any extra spare time for this but I still keep up with news from time to time (can you tell by how knowledgeable I am in this field?).

Why did NewJeans have to disband I'm so sad because they were the first band to made me reconsider hopping back in the pits of hellfire fandom.

Look how cute Hanni is hehe (she's a minor and you're going to jail if you smiled and agreed).

5. The Future of K-pop Fandom

Okay we're at the conclusion now. Thanks for making it so far and reading till this point. So to conclude, it's clear that the K-pop fandom isn't just a passing trend and it's here to stay for a while. It has become a global community that changed lives. Jang & Song (2017) discuss how the influence of K-pop goes beyond the music itself since it also acts as a bridge for cultural exchange and even social impact. From stream parties to donating to charities in the name of their idols, K-pop fans are using their passion to make a difference which is great honestly. With a blend of cultural appreciation, a touch of social bonding and a splash of online presence, K-pop fandom represents a new kind of community that brings people together across borders and different backgrounds. As long as there are fans eager to connect, I can say that this fandom will only continue to grow. Which is quite awesome since this fandom can inspire others and redefine what it means to be a "fan" in today's digital age.

Here is xuenstrugglestoblog checking out with her last blog :)

References

Jang, W & Song, JE 2017, The Influences of K-pop Fandom on Increasing Cultural Contact, National Research Foundation of Korea Grant, viewed 14 November 2024, <https://barnettcenter.osu.edu/sites/default/files/2019-08/the_influences_of_k-pop_fandom.pdf>.

Laffan, DA 2020, ‘Positive Psychosocial Outcomes and Fanship in K-Pop Fans: a Social Identity Theory Perspective’, Psychological Reports, vol. 124, no. 5, p. 003329412096152, viewed 14 November 2024, <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0033294120961524>.

Liu, CY 2023, ‘The Research on the Influence of KPOP (Korean Popular Music) Culture on Fans’, Communications in Humanities Research, vol. CHR Vol.4, no. 1, pp. 63–68, viewed 14 November 2024, <https://chr.ewapublishing.org/article.html?pk=f9ac124f75f94d07afd869e60bd5d9c9>.

Maros, M & Abdul Basek, FN 2022, ‘Building Online Social Identity and Fandom Activities of K-pop Fans on Twitter’, 3L The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 282–295.

[xuenstrugglestoblog]

The Media to Opinion would be Excalibur to Arthur

So we’re talking media again, well, I am a media student… So…

This time, it’s on wielding the media to shape public opinion, specifically the ongoing Ukraine-Russian war. Since the era of digitalization is here, social media has played a key role in influencing public perception and international discourse that is regarding the Ukraine-Russian War. You can see people discussing and holding debates about the topic via X (formerly Twitter), users making awareness posts on Instagram, others sharing links for people to sign petitions through Instagram stories or even just WhatsApp. With social media to create a more direct way to spread information, real-time updates can be facilitated too which will definitely create a powerful narrative war where the whole world will be looking at each move both countries make. However, this narrative war can also be swayed by misinformation, emotional appeals and citizen journalism so we're gonna dive in deep on how social media has shaped global views of the conflict.

Just wanted to add since this essay is touching on something as sensitive and serious as war, there's gonna be less lame, corny jokes that I'd usually make on my blogs since I want people reading this to be serious about it as well.

(source: Financial Times)

1. Creating Empathy & Awareness

One of the most significant impacts of social media in the Ukraine-Russia war has been its ability to evoke empathy in users by showcasing the human side of the conflict. In my case, I was touched by this article that I read a while ago on Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who was a comedian turned president with no experience of politics (Mulvey 2022). As an amateur in this new world of politics, he still emerged to become a convincing war leader, fighting in the war himself for the sake of his nation and citizens (Mulvey 2022). You don't get to see much presidents this selfless in the world *ehem especially that orange twice elected president who wants to make his country great again*. President Zelensky is smart in using the social media to fight in the war as well, as I quote Mulvey (2022), "He has rallied the nation with his addresses and video selfies and given voice to Ukrainian anger and defiance of Russian aggression". According to Karalis (2024), Ukraine's digital strategy has helped to globalize this conflict, making it feel closer to people who might otherwise see it as a distant political issue. By sharing personal stories and raw images, Ukraine has framed the war as not just a geopolitical struggle but as a humanitarian crisis that seeks international attention.

This form of digital advocacy has been very effective in generating support for Ukraine, in not just public opinion but financial aid as well. Maruskhovska-Kartunova et al. (2023) noted as well that social media has put millions of users into action, whether it's through donations, volunteer work or just as simple as spreading awareness. Social media has allowed users to respond quickly and contribute to global solidarity, which in turn gives people a sense of direct involvement.

(source: Vanity Fair)

2. Citizen Journalism as the Protagonist and Misinformation as the Antagonist

To answer your question (that I've already heard in your head), citizen journalism is when the general public (who are NOT journalists) collect, spread and analyze news and information, via the internet. thus, it definitely plays a part in shaping perceptions of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Through smartphones and socmed accounts, everyday people have been able to provide direct, real-time coverage that traditional media outlets are unable to do so. This form of reporting is only faster, but also more personal, since it raw, emotional moments are being captured which will resonate with audiences globally (Maruvkhovska-Kartunova et al. 2023). Citizen journalists have shown the world how the war looks like, unfiltered, which will increase empathy and create urgency among viewers.

With good, comes bad, so while citizen journalism often prioritizes speed over accuracy, this may lead to the rapid spread of unverified information, which at times, can appear to be false. Mir et al. (2023) explained that false content or inaccurate reports can go viral before they are actually fact-checked, contributing to a vicious cycle of misinformation that further complicates the public's understanding on the conflict. While social media has been great for broadcasting Ukraine's point of view, it has also become a battleground for misinformation from Russia. Russia has long utilized digital platform to spread narratives that justify its actions. This strategy includes the spread of "malinformation", which are facts that are accurate but presented in ways that mess with perception and interpretation (Selvarajah & Fiorito 2023).

However, as an X user myself, I've noticed that X now has a new 'fact-checking' feature that allows the community to "contribute fact-checks and corrections, with citations and references then displayed in-stream" (Hutchinson 2024). This is great but since it's still a pretty new feature, we don't know how whether it brings more trouble or it's a new helpful addition. Until then citizen journalism should definitely be consumed carefully since unverified contents may risk distorting the realities of the Ukraine-Russian War.

(source: Paollo Pellegrin)

3. Compassion Fatigue and Information Overload

One of the unintended consequences of the Ukraine-Russia war's continuous coverage on social media is compassion fatigue in users globally. While it's great that the widespread availability of war-related content has raised awareness, overtime, the constant consummation of distressing visuals and stories may cause an emotional burnout. To simplify, people may become desensitized to the violence, which reduces the sense of urgency around humanitarian support. New technology such as deepfakes and AI generated content add complications, making it harder for audiences to distinguished between genuine or manipulated footage, which leads to further disengagement (Mir et al. 2023). This issue poses a risk for Ukraine since it could diminish international support when sustained engagement is crucial. The rapid pace of social media news cycle also causes users to have shorter attention span, as people move on to other crises once the initial empathy tires out. According to Ghosh (2024), this desensitization effect stresses on the need for strategic, compelling storytelling that keeps the public engaged without overwhelming with repetitive content.

(source: The New York Times)

The Future of Social Media's Role in Conflict Perception

This Ukraine-Russian war has shown us that social media is a great tool for shaping public opinion in times of conflict. Socmed platforms have amplified Ukraine's voice, humanized the crisis and built a global community of support, but obstacles such as misinformation and compassion fatigue still stands in the way. DIGITAL LITERACY IS IMPORTANT. I can't stress it enough, we have to be smart in knowing what information we are consuming and platforms should also filter out false information to help out. Not just this war, but with other conflicts rising up on the internet, social media's role will only get bigger. Karalis (2024) states that social media must be harnesses ethically and responsibly, to ensure that it serves as a force for accurate awareness rather than confusion or disengagement. Thus, the Ukraine-Russian war is a great example for us to see that while social media can bring distant issues to our screens and minds, it is still up to users and platforms to navigate its complexities thoughtfully.

References

Ghosh, C 2024, ‘The Impact of Social Media on Conflict Perception: Case Studies of Russia- Ukraine and Gaza Conflicts’, ResearchGate, Amity Institute of Social Sciences (AISS), viewed 10 November 2024, <http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17178.25285>.

Hutchinson, A 2024, ‘X Says That over 500K Users Now Contribute to Community Notes’, Social Media Today, viewed 11 November 2024, <https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-500k-contribute-to-community-notes/715866/>.

Karalis, M 2024, ‘Russia-Ukraine War through the Eyes of Social Media | GJIA’, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, viewed 10 November 2024, <https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2024/02/02/russia-ukraine-through-the-eyes-of-social-media/>.

Marukhovskа-Kartunova, O, Marukhovskyi, O, Aleksandrova, M, Ivanova, I & Lebedenko, N 2023, ‘Digital Journalism and the Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Perception of Russian Aggression in Ukraine’, Revista Amazonía Investiga, vol. 12, no. 69, pp. 143–153.

Mir, AA, Rathinam, S, Gul, S & Bhat, SA 2023, ‘Exploring the Perceived Opinion of Social Media Users about the Ukraine–Russia Conflict through the Naturalistic Observation of Tweets’, Social Network Analysis and Mining, vol. 13, no. 1.

Mulvey, S 2022, ‘Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky: the Comedian President Who Is Rising to the Moment’, BBC News, BBC News, viewed 11 November 2024, <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59667938>.

Selvarajah, S & Fiorito, L 2023, ‘Media, Public Opinion, and the ICC in the Russia–Ukraine War’, Journalism and Media, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 760–789.

[xuenstrugglestoblog]

From lightning cable to type-c : Using Social Media to Supercharge Public Health Campaigns

Yup. You heard me right. No more of that radio, TV, newspaper nonsense, we're upgrading to that latest iPhone which uses the type-c, fast charge cable. Just kidding, we're actually using social media to boost public health campaigns. Social media is a game-changer for public health campaigns, opening up new ways to reach people especially the chronically online ones.

Now JUST A DISCLAIMER : This essay is gonna sound a little similar to my previous posting but that's not because I'm running out of creative juices. No. I will always have them flowing. However, I'll have to admit that some of my points will be similar since we are using social media to boost something again.

Back to my previous point, health organizations and community groups can get their messages across faster and engage with more diverse groups via socmed. Great! That's like 2 stones and 1 bird! Or is it 2 birds and 1 stone... Plus, creative formats like memes and influencer posts make health topics feel more relatable and relevant. But and but, of course there is a but - using social media effectively required thoughtful strategies, especially when it comes to tackling misinformation and ensuring campaigns actually resonate with the people. We're gonna dive into how social media can be used for impactful public health campaigns, including tips on working with influencers, building supportive communities, making content that's creative and engaging, and all the other good stuff...

1.The Power of Influencers and Memes

I'M BRINGING THE MEMES BACKKKKKK!!!!! That's cause influencer and memes are gold when it comes to boosting the reach of health campaigns. Partnering with influencers who are able to align with a campaign's message can amplify its reach and make the information stick (Kostygina et al. 2020). Influencers have already build the trust and connection with their followers, which is great for public health message that people need to take seriously. For example, Demi Lovato is a known advocate for mental health awareness, and she isn't shy to share that with her 145 million followers on Instagram (Zizzo 2024). When Demi shares health tips or personal experiences, it often feels more authentic and relatable, which makes people more likely to listen and engage with the content (in the form of likes, comments, shares, reposts, etc.)

Now, we talk about the memes. There is absolutely nothing terrible about them (maybe I'm just being biased)- they're easy to share, they make complex health issues feel approachable with a touch of humor, they make the suicidal thoughts go away... however, it's a balancing act. Go too far with humor, the message might get lost. Kostygina et al. (2020) remind us that keeping a sense of authenticity and relatability is key. However, if it's done well, memes and influencer partnerships can spark real great conversations about health in a way that feels fresh and organic.

Now I'm just gonna share a couple memes that tickled my funny bone during the pandemic.

All credit goes to Baltimore City Health Department for their creativity, sarcasm and slander towards anti-vaxxers.

2. Get the Creative Juices Flowing to Boost Engagement

Social media thrives on creativity itself. An analogy that I would give would be trees fighting for sunlight in the rainforest. To stand out among the other trees (other social media accounts), you have to be a little different, a little more... creative. Public health campaigns can take advantage of that creativity by curating content that resonates emotionally with the audience. Ashley & Tuten (2015) highlight the importance of using a mix of content formats- think interactive polls, visually striking infographics, or even videos that people want to watch and share. One way health campaigns can stand out is using user-generated content. This can be done by encouraging people to share into their own health stories using a specially curated hashtag. This can create a real sense of community and make health info feel more intimate and personal. This will definitely help with the reach and it will build engagement that sticks around for a while. As Ashley & Tuten (2015) found, the more a post resonates with people. they more people will engage with it. The outcome will be a health message that makes an impactful difference on the audience.

3. The Group Chat is Texting for More Support

Having things digitalized definitely makes a lot of things easier. Health groups can also be created virtually via social media platforms, and these digital health communities can become a safe space for people to come together and support one another, exchange tips, and learn about health topics in a non-judgmental environment basically like a drug rehab group. Ba & Wang (2013) explained that these groups are able to fulfill needs such as emotional connection, shared understanding, which will help drive up some positive changes with time. Social media makes it easier for users of different backgrounds to join these communities, whether they're dealing with chronic illness, trying to live healthier or just wanting to learn more about health topics (just a side note : this is wonderful because my current obsession is brewing kombucha and I've actually joined kombucha brewing groups on Facebook just to learn more from the aunties). For public health campaigns, joining forces with established health communities or creating targeted groups can be super effective. For example, establishing a cancer recovery rehab group in conjunction with an NGO that supports cancer. Campaigns that understand the value of these spaces often see higher engagement since members are already motivated and looking for support. Ba & Wang (2013) also observed that digital health communities can give people a sense of belonging, which in turn, helps campaigns foster a more sustained interest in healthy behaviour.

4. Turn on Waze Cause It's Time to Navigate Through These Misinformation and Audience Gaps

This point, I have spoken about as well previously, but I am here to address it once more since it's kinda crucial. I think the most common misinformation spread online was during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic where aunties and uncles are spreading misinformation about various cures to covid (such as a certain health minister encouraging us to 'just drink hot water'). With information spreading like wildfire online, since it can be spread with just a couple clicks, it's just as easy for false health tips to reach the gullible users which may undermine public trust in reliable sources. According to Kanchan & Gaidhane (2023), campaigns should be transparent and back up their information with evidence or proven, legitimate, scientific research. Addressing misinformation head-on, maybe even in a Q&A format, can go a long way in building credibility. A great example would be the video posted by WIRED on YouTube, starring Dr. Ken Jeong. Dr. Ken would answer medical questions posted up by users on Twitter and he cleared a lot of health misunderstanding and myths through that simple video.

Aside from misinformation, there might be audience gaps at times as well. Campaigns need to understand their audiences to make sure their messages resonate. Ramanadhan et al. (2013) found that successful community-based organizations pay close attention to what their audiences care about and adjust the content accordingly. This is another great thing about social media- it's great for testing content, so if something isn't engaging people, you can quickly pivot and try a different approach. However, I understand that there are still those out there who have issued with access, not everyone has the digital literacy and tech access to engage with virtual campaigns equally. That's why, a great strategy would be working with the government or even non-profit organizations to help get the message out to those who aren't always online.

OKAY. We're kinda done here.

Social media has made it easier than ever to spread public health messages and connect with diverse audiences. Whether it's teaming up with influences, getting creative with content, or fostering supportive communities, there are a lot of great ways to use social media to it's full potential. However, it's important to still keep a close eye on challenges such as misinformation and make sure the campaigns are inclusive (CAUSE NO ONE GETS LEFT OUT). In the end, the most successful public health campaigns will be the ones that feel authentic, with solid information to back up, and it resonates with people they're trying to reach.

References

Kostygina, G., Tran, H., Binns, S., Szczypka, G., Emery, S., Vallone, D., & Hair, E, 2020, ‘Boosting Health Campaign Reach and Engagement Through Use of Social Media Influencers and Memes’. Social Media + Society, vol. 6 no. 2, viewed 9 November 2024, < https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120912475 >. 

Ashley, C & Tuten, T 2015, ‘Creative strategies in social media marketing: An exploratory study of branded social content and consumer engagement’, Psychology & Marketing, vol. 32 no. 1, pp. 15–27, viewed 9 November 2024, <https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.20761>. 

Ba, S. and Wang, L 2013, ‘Digital health communities: The effect of their motivation mechanisms’, Decision Support Systems, vol. 55 no. 4, pp.941-947, viewed 9 November 2024, <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2013.01.003>. 

Kanchan, S. and Gaidhane, A 2023, ‘Social Media Role and Its Impact on Public Health: A Narrative Review’, Cureus, vol. 15 no.1, viewed 9 November 2024, <https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33737?>. Ramanadhan, S., Mendez, S.R., Rao, M. & Viswanath, K 2013, ‘Social media use by community-based organizations conducting health promotion: a content analysis’, BMC public health, vol. 13 no. 1, pp.1-10, viewed 17 November 2023, <https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-112

Zizzo, M. (2024). 10 Celebrity Advocates Raising Mental Health Awareness - Stigma Free Mental Health Society. [online] Stigma Free Mental Health. Available at: https://stigmafreementalhealth.com/blog/10-celebrity-advocates-raising-mental-health-awareness/.

[xuenstrugglestoblog]

LET'S GET POLITICAL. But use keyboard lah...

As a Malaysian, you proooobably have at least one social media account. You might notice as well that there will always be a touch of politics, even if you don't listen, don't care, don't know, don't dabble, you will still know lah. Whether it's memes, hashtags, election discussions or just banters (among chronically online users, keyboard warriors...), social media has become a powerful tool for Malaysians to voice their political opinions. It unites us, connect with those across the sea (I'm east Malaysian so I'm pointing at those west Malaysians), and keep us on our toes with the latest updates on political news. But how did social media come to play such a big role for political engagement in Malaysia? I did my fair share of digging and listened to what researchers have to about how social media is changing the political scene...

1.Social Media, the New Way to Talk smack Politics

In Malaysia, mainstream media or traditional media (whatever you call it, the kind that involves TV, radio, newspaper, ah that one lah...) typically has always been government-aligned. For example, The Star is associated with Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), UMNO controls Media Prima, etc (Anwar 2016). Social media is a little different as there is no one to control the specific platform (except for the boss *cough* eLon MUsk). That way, politicians and citizens are able to communicate directly without censorship with slightly more freedom of speech. Anyone is allowed to share their two cents and judgement. Leong (2015) can agree with me on this since he stated that social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have been game-changers for political figures wanting to speak directly to Malaysians without filters. This is great since politicians can share their perspectives and thoughts, people can instantly react, question or even challenge them on the spot. This could backfire for politicians at times but at least they are clear on the Malaysian's opinions on their actions. This direct access has definitely encouraged more Malaysians to interact with political content, voice opinions and discuss ideas openly.

2. Politics in Cyberspace: Not Like the X-Men Speaking Up in New Spaces

Malaysian cyberspace has become a unique choice of venue for political conversations, giving people a platform that feels free from traditional media constraints. For me, I noticed that more of the Malaysian political debate would take place on X. This is true since someone even conducted a research on the use of X by Malaysian celebrities during the election campaign (refer to The Use of Twitter by Malaysian Celebrities as An Election Campaign Instrument: A Review of The Literature). Weiss (2012) calls this shift a "democratizing force". It can be seen that younger Malaysians, especially the Gen Z, would use this opportunity to speak out on issues that matter to them--from economic inequalities to social justice. Another great case study would be female activist and student Ain Husniza who made used of her TikTok to call out her PE teacher in school for making rape jokes (Today Online 2021). She is indeed an icon for her activism against rape culture in Malaysian schools. Topics that were once avoided in mainstream outlets are now openly debated online, helping citizens feel like their voices are being heard.

3. Changing the Game: Social Media's Role in Elections

During Malaysia's 2022 general election, social media played an influential role in shaping voter opinions. Again, this would mostly take place in X, formerly Twitter. Everyone would be tweeting about the latest updates, talking smack about politicians they wouldn't like, the memes would be going crazy and even politicians themselves would be blasting announcements on their page. Hamid & Rahman (2018) looked at how social media helped spread election- related information, including coverage of corruption scandals that mainstream media glossed over. Social media platforms and campaigns helped inform the public and rallied people around calls for change. I can testify since my aunties and uncles were going nuts in the WhatsApp group chat spreading the latest misinformation. For many, this access to alternative sources of information and transparent political dialogue was a huge factor in the outcome of the election. I guess you can say that social media essentially turned into a megaphone for those eager to speak up for change.

4. Political Memes Arise

This is undoubtedly my favorite part. Or maybe anything with memes just get me going hehe and haha. A recent study by Azmir, Roshezry & Afzanizzam (2024) explores how memes are shaping political marketing in Malaysia. What memes do is they simplify political issues and give them a touch of satirical and humorous visuals, which makes it easy to share and understand. For a lot of younger Malaysians, memes help to make complex issues relatable and easy to digest, if not entertaining. Additionally, since memes spread like wild fire, some political parties are even using them in their strategies to appeal to digital-native voters. Enough of the boring stuff, I'm here to share a couple of my favorite political memes.

(source: u/Wimerdorf on Reddit)

This meme sums up the 2022 election where parties were teaming up with each other to increase their chances of winning the election. It was hectic and voters were confused and betrayed, because what's the point of voting if you were just going to team up with others just to win?

(source: @yourmamaflickr on 9GAG)

Hehehehehahaha, this is quite funny. When Mahathir won the 2022 election to become Malaysia's Prime Minister for the second time (no one has become PM twice before in Malaysia), he might have made some mistakes and said some controversial stuff that angered the Malaysians. One of which is pretty self-explanatory if you take a look at the meme above...

(source: @watsonsmalaysia on X)

This is my personal favorite. Maybe it's the posture and cuteness of the cat. Maybe it's the casual confused tone of the caption. Maybe because it's a large company in Malaysia tweeting this funny moment. A little bit of context : this was also referring to the 2022 election craze where different parties are teaming up with each other but the main questions from the Malaysians are : when are the results coming out and will there be a holiday tomorrow?

5. The Flip Side: Misinformation and Echo Chambers

Social media isn't always sunshine and rainbows. If my skin is a breeding ground for acne bacteria, social media would be a breeding ground for misinformation. Its spreads fast and can muddy up political discussions. A great example would be the one that I spoke about earlier, where my aunties and uncles would always share the latest cure to cancer or the new plans that our Prime Minister have against corruptions (both of which are fake). Weiss (2012) had warned about "echo chambers", where people are only exposed to opinions that matched their own. This can lead to even more division, as people are less likely to engage with, or just basic understanding of opposing viewpoints. So while social media opens up the floor for more voices, it can also make it harder for some to sift our facts from noise and rubbish. Like my dad who's always sending me news on how scientists discovered a new species but no, it's just AI.

So? Talk so much but what's your point?

My point and my conclusion, is that social media has totally changed the game for political engagement in Malaysia. More people are tuning in to to discuss and challenge ideas, more voices are speaking up and politicians are finding themselves having a harder time trying to hide from hate comments. Thanks to studies by Leong (2015), Weiss (2012), Hamid & Rahman (2018) and Azmir, Roshezry & Afzanizzam (2024), we can see how social media empowers people to participate in political discourse and mobilize for change. But, it's also clear that,

With great power, comes great responsibility... - Spiderman

since we have to navigate our way through the misinformation, polarization and echo chambers.

As Malaysia's digital political landscape continues to grow, the potential for social media to shape the future of Malaysian democracy will grow as well. The conversation is only getting started, and it's happening online...

References

Abdul, S, Yazmin, FY, Mohd, Z & Rahim, H 2022, ‘The Use of Twitter by Malaysian Celebrities as an Election Campaign Instrument: a Review of the Literature’, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 12, no. 11, viewed 5 November 2024, <https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/15269/the-use-of-twitter-by-malaysian-celebrities-as-an-election-campaign-instrument-a-review-of-the-literature.pdf>.

Anwar, NI 2016, ‘Who Controls the media? BN Hypocrisy Exposed’, Malaysiakini, viewed 5 November 2024, <https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/363206>.

Azmir, M, Roshezry, A & Afzannizam, M 2024, ‘The Influence of Political Memes on Political Marketing Strategy in Malaysia’, Journal of Public Administration and Governance, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 118–118.

Leong, P. P. Y 2015,’Political Communication in Malaysia: A study on the Use of New Media in Politics’, JeDEM - eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government, 7(1), pp, 46–71, viewed 5 November 2024, <http://dx.doi.org/10.29379/jedem.v7i1.372>. 

Today Online 2021, ‘The Malaysian Schoolgirl Using TikTok to Challenge School Abuse’, Today, viewed 5 November 2024, <https://www.todayonline.com/world/malaysian-schoolgirl-using-tiktok-challenge-school-abuse>.

Weiss, M.L 2012, ‘Politics in cyberspace: New media in Malaysia. Berlin: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung', fesmedia Asia,viewed 5 November 2024, <https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/09068.pdf>. 

Hamid, Nur Nadhirah Ab, and Safawi Abdul Rahman 2018, ‘Impact of social media on Malaysia’s election landscape’, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8, no. 9 : 275-284, viewed 5 November 2024, <http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i9/4590>.

[xuenstrugglestoblog]

Did somebody say blogs R DEAD??

Since the pandemic, we've all been watching TikTok's short videos to cure our boredom, but it's 2024 now and there's Reels on Instagram and Facebook, YouTube now has Shorts. Well we can safely say that our attention span is now shorter than the time it takes for the stock market to crash.

This got a question that some of the older generation (anything before Gen Z) wondering : Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram? SPOILER ALERT : Yes. Most definitely is and let me break it down for you.

Hehe kidding, hope you like to see Mario break dancing, but in all seriousness, here's why blogging will survive like the rats who live under Paris' sewers : 1. The Long-Form Content King

I mentioned earlier that people these days have peanuts for their attention span (sorry not sorry, I'm one of them anyways). This is all thanks to TikToks, IG Reels, YouTube Shorts for feeding us these short, less than a minute videos that are used for quick consumption. Quick consumption means surface level engagement and that can be translated to : the videos provide very little information and it tends to go over your head so you'll forget it in a couple of days. However, blogs allow brands to explore topics in detail, provide in-depth opinions and value that can't be conveyed through short videos. Blogging is more intimate where it provides in-depth, authoritative content that builds a connection with the readers. Space (2024) shared that blogs offer an unmatched resource when it comes to sharing expertise and comprehensive response to questions that users might not get from just a TikTok. Even with Instagram posts, there is a word limit and we'll most probably be directed to the Linktree in their bio "for more information". Thus, blogs can explore a topic in full detail, breakdown complex ideas and even provide sources to strengthen claims. This is a lot of information to just fit into a video. This is why blogging will strengthen a brand's authority and provide a lasting value for readers.

2. Blogging and SEO : One True Pair

Blogging's relevance in 2024 continues on with its power to drive organic traffic through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). TikTok and IG are mostly dependent on in-app searches and those sneaky algorithms that cater to your viewing feed, but blogs play the long game by being indexed on search engines. Lyon (2024) has stressed that blogs are critical for boosting visibility through organic search. Why? Simple enough : search engines will prioritize websites that consistently publish quality content (keyword here is quality). Blogs, in this case, will regularly update with new, relevant information; and not to mention, a well-written blog with the optimized keywords will land a spot in the first few suggestions of Google's search results, driving traffic to a brand's website for years to come. Unlike IG captions or TikTok descriptions, blogs definitely offer more opportunities for relevant keywords, which adds metadata and links to other relevant pages - all the essentials ingredients for a recipe to improve a website's SEO. Last bit of information : blogs enable content to be repurposed across multiple platforms, such as extracting tips from a long, boring article to create a series of TikTok videos or IG posts to make things brief-er and more interesting.

3. Establishing Authority and Building Trust <3

The current 2024 digital landscape is getting increasingly competitive, so trust and authority will go hand-in-hand to become key differentiators for brands and content creators. Blogging allows for a more personal, more transparent... just... more DETAILED exploration of ideas that readers can rely on for accuracy and depth. According to Yvette, blogging in 2024 is more important than ever because brands can leverage blogs to establish thought leadership and build trust with the consumers. Yes, TikTok and IG are excellent at creating buzz and getting direct, immediate, interactions, but do they foster the same level of trust as a well-researched, well-written blog post like this one? Well, I don't think so. Blogging allows businesses to answer those specific questions, address issues and share their expertise in a way that consumers may revisit over time. Plus, blogs serve as an evergreen resource, providing that value readers love long after the initial publication date.

4. Blogging and Social Media are #BFFs4lyfe

You heard that right, blogging and social media will forever complement each other in powerful ways. First, you see this video on TikTok or Instagram. It grabs your attention. You go "huh.. that's pretty interesting..." You want more information. Where do you go? That's right. You head over to a blog to read more about whatever that just snagged your attention. Short-form content acts as an excellent hook to grab attention and generate interest, but the blogs take over for the deeper dive into the topic. Lyon (2024) further suggests that bloggers who incorporate video content, social media links, and multimedia within their posts will create a more engaging experience that can satisfy both types of content consumers. Additionally, blogs can be shared on social media platforms to drive the traffic back to a website, going back to the point where it helps to foster that relationship between a brand and audience #betterthanyourrelationship

Don't hate me for that, I'm just as single. Going back on topic though, businesses can maximize that reach and engagement of their content while delivering the in-depth information that the audience craves. So yes, social media trends fluctuate and change ever so frequently, but a well-maintained blog remains a stable, reliable foundation for long-term brand growth. #blogswillcontinueonforever #bloggingliveson

It's 2024, the world is dominated by Instagram and TikTok. Blogging may seem like this relic from a different time period, but hey. I hope this blog post changed your mind about it. Blogging clearly still holds immense value, especially when it comes down to provide deep, contextual, content, improving SEO and establishing authority. As Space (2024) and Yvette (2024) suggests, blogging serves a different, BUT complementary purpose, to short-form content. The balance of both snappy social media posts and detailed blog articles can help a brand cater to the diverse needs of their audience.

So NO, BLOGGING ISN'T DEAD (I'm blogging as you read this) and it is still as relevant as ever. It can, however, continue to evolve but there will still be a place for long-form, thoughtful writing.

References

Lyon, C. (2024). Is blogging dead? No, and here’s why. Lyon Content Agency. Retrieved from https://lyoncontentagency.com/is-blogging-dead-no-and-heres-why/

Yvette. (2024). Why blogging in 2024 is more important than ever. Lemonade Design Co. Retrieved from https://lemonadedesign.co/why-blogging-in-2024-is-more-important-than-ever/

Li, Y. (2022). Identity construction in social media: A study on blogging continuance. Behaviour & Information Technology, 41(8), 1671–1688. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2021.1895319

Space, M. (2024). Why blogging still matters. Manson Space. Retrieved from https://manson.space/blog/why-blogging-still-matters/

[xuenstrugglestoblog]

Hi.

My name is Tze Xuen and I really want to pass this Digital Communities unit. I like sports climbing and pickleball. I am interning this semester and doing 4 units not including the 5th (MPU). Being a first year final year (my degree is only 1.5 year) is insane. Don’t do this for the sake of your mental health. But if you need to be productive to be stimulated, then give this a try.

This is a drawing made by me called Kong Long.