The Impact of Civic Engagement on Filipino Youth During the Pandemic: The Role of Social Networking Sites for Social Capital Building

This study examined the civic engagement of Filipino youth (N=14) volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anchored in the asset-based framework of Positive Youth Development, the study discussed the critical role of civic engagement in enhancing the well-being of youth during the pandemic. It also analyzed the role of Social Networking Sites (SNS) in building social capital for civic engagement. Through in-depth interviews, the study examined the impact of the participants’ engagement on their lives, and how they confronted challenges related to civic work. Thematic analysis of the interview data yielded four themes: personal challenges during the pandemic, coping with the pandemic, attending to work challenges, and future civic engagement. The participants’ civic engagement helped them cope with isolation and loneliness during the pandemic. They also learned to efficiently use SNS for their civic work and expressed to continue their engagement post-pandemic. The implications of the study findings on research and practice were discussed.