Isabela – Social media has emerged as a powerful tool for revitalizing young people's interest in poetry by making literary works more accessible, interactive, and engaging. This finding was published by Verna G. Alberto from Sinaoangan Norte Elementary School and Celso C. Dumalig from Pangal Sur High School, Department of Education, Philippines, in the International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research in July 2026. The study reveals that platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter not only expand students' access to poetry but also strengthen their motivation, creativity, and appreciation of both digital and traditional poetic works.
The rapid advancement of digital technology has fundamentally transformed the way literature is created, shared, and experienced. Poetry, once largely confined to printed books, anthologies, and classroom instruction, has found a new audience through social media platforms that combine text, images, audio, and video into highly engaging formats. This transformation has made poetry more relevant to today's digitally connected generation, enabling students not only to read literary works but also to create, perform, and share their own poems with audiences around the world.
To investigate how social media influences students' engagement with poetry, the researchers employed a descriptive-correlational research design. The study involved 100 college students from a higher education institution in the Philippines who actively use social media and are enrolled in literature-related courses. Data were collected through validated questionnaires and open-ended questions, then analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, ANOVA, and thematic analysis to provide both quantitative and qualitative insights into students' experiences with digital poetry.
The findings indicate that TikTok is the most popular platform for poetry engagement, used by 78% of respondents. It is followed by Facebook (70%), Instagram (62%), YouTube (55%), and Twitter/X (28%). TikTok's popularity reflects the growing appeal of short-form videos that combine spoken poetry with music, visual storytelling, and creative editing. The data also show that students regularly encounter poetry through social media, although their overall level of engagement remains moderate rather than intensive.
When examining how students interact with poetry online, the researchers found that reading poems remains the most common activity. About 82% of respondents primarily read poems posted by others, while 71% watch poetry performances in video format. More active forms of participation—including commenting, sharing poems, publishing original works, and joining online poetry challenges—are less common. These findings suggest that while social media has successfully increased students' exposure to poetry, encouraging more active creative participation remains an important educational goal.
The study also demonstrates that social media positively influences students' motivation and self-expression. Respondents reported an overall mean score of 3.93, indicating agreement that social media strengthens their confidence, encourages them to write poetry, and provides a meaningful space for expressing emotions and personal identity. Interactive features such as likes, comments, and content sharing serve as powerful motivational tools that inspire students to continue writing and improving their creative work.
Beyond motivation, the research highlights significant cognitive and emotional benefits associated with digital poetry. Students reported that reading and watching poetry on social media improved their understanding of poetic techniques, deepened their emotional connection to literary works, and increased their appreciation of language, imagery, and artistic expression. However, the researchers also caution that excessive reliance on social media may encourage superficial reading habits unless students are guided to engage in deeper reflection and critical literary analysis.
From an educational perspective, the study found that social media possesses substantial instructional value in poetry education. Students agreed that integrating social media into literature classes expands learning beyond textbooks, enhances understanding of rhythm, tone, and poetic expression through multimedia content, and improves creative writing skills through digital poetry projects. Respondents also emphasized that interacting with poets and classmates online makes literature lessons more engaging, enjoyable, and relevant to their everyday experiences.
One of the study's most significant findings is that digital poetry does not replace traditional poetry. Instead, both forms complement one another. Exposure to digital poetry encourages students to explore classical poems while helping them reinterpret traditional poetic techniques in contemporary ways. Most respondents agreed that digital poetry increases accessibility and initial interest, whereas traditional poetry continues to provide deeper literary understanding and analytical richness. Together, they create a more balanced and meaningful literary learning experience.
The thematic analysis further revealed that social media introduces students to poets from diverse cultures, inspires them to write their own poetry, and uses trending content as an entry point into literary exploration. At the same time, participants identified several challenges, including information overload, fear of negative criticism, and the tendency for users to like or share poems without fully understanding them. The researchers therefore recommend that teachers integrate social media into poetry instruction through structured creative projects, literary discussions, digital publishing, and critical analysis activities to maximize educational benefits.
According to Verna G. Alberto and Celso C. Dumalig, social media has opened new opportunities for educators to reconnect students with poetry. Rather than threatening traditional literature, digital platforms can expand literary appreciation, encourage creativity, and foster collaborative learning communities when used thoughtfully. The study also found significant relationships between social media use and students' poetry exposure, comprehension, appreciation, creative motivation, and growing interest in traditional poetry.
Author Profile
Verna G. Alberto – Sinaoangan Norte Elementary School, Department of Education, San Agustin, Isabela, Philippines
Celso C. Dumalig – Pangal Sur High School, Department of Education, Echague, Isabela, Philippines
Research Source
Article Title: Poetry in the Digital Age: An Exploration of How Social Media Platforms Are Revitalizing Interest in Poetry Among Secondary Students
Journal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4, No. 7, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsmr.v4i7.103
Journal Link: https://journalijsmr.my.id/index.php/ijsmr
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