Investigating the Impact of Exposure to National News and Issues on Social Media on the Nationalism Attitudes of High School Students in Padang Pariaman

Abstrak

In the digital era, social media usage among high school students has risen significantly, becoming their primary source of news and national issues. Students are exposed to diverse news and national discourses, which may shape their nationalist attitudes. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to such content and the nationalism of high school students in Padang Pariaman, while also analyzing their interpretation patterns through qualitative methods. The growing access to social media among youth presents both opportunities and risks. On one hand, educational content can enhance students' knowledge; on the other, misinformation—exacerbated by low digital literacy and critical thinking skills—may weaken their nationalist values. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, this research combines quantitative and qualitative techniques to comprehensively examine how social media influences students' nationalism. Key questions include: (1) the intensity of students' exposure to national news/issues on social media, (2) the types of content most frequently accessed, (3) their perceptions of such content, and (4) factors affecting shifts in their nationalist attitudes.