WCSE

Effects of Social Media Literacy and FoMO on Voting Intention of First-time Voters in the Philippines

Abstract— Social media has become a critical influence on the political engagement of first-time voters in the Philippines, serving as both an information hub and a source of misinformation. This study explores how social media literacy, and the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) impact the voting intentions and behaviors of first-time voters, using the Theory of Reasoned Action as a framework. A survey of 233 Filipino neophyte voters was conducted, with data analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationships between social media literacy, FoMO, attitudes, subjective norms, and voting behavior. Results indicate that higher social media literacy fosters positive attitude toward voting and reduces vulnerability to misinformation, while FoMO significantly influences social media literacy and shapes subjective norms by driving heightened engagement. Additionally, attitudes and subjective norms were found to strongly predict voting intentions, which in turn drive actual voting behavior. These findings highlight the importance of equipping young voters with social media literacy skills to navigate digital misinformation and mitigate the negative impacts of FoMO. The study underscores the need for voter education initiatives and broader digital literacy programs to support informed electoral participation among first-time voters in the Philippines, with implications for similar digitally connected populations globally.

Index Terms— FoMO, First-Time Voters, Philippine Elections, Social Media Literacy, TRA

Eric Johann Garcia, Dilen Arabela Abrenica, Czarina Jan Lumandas, Nathaniel Christian Portez, Ryan Ebardo, Mary Jane Arcilla, Renato Jose Maria Molano
De La Salle University, PHILIPPINES

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Cite: Eric Johann Garcia, Dilen Arabela Abrenica, Czarina Jan Lumandas, Nathaniel Christian Portez, Ryan Ebardo, Mary Jane Arcilla, Renato Jose Maria Molano, "Effects of Social Media Literacy and FoMO on Voting Intention of First-time Voters in the Philippines ", 2025 the 15th International Workshop on Computer Science and Engineering (WCSE 2025), pp. 45-50, Jeju Island, South Korea, June 28-30, 2025.