Women’s political empowerment in the Asia-Pacific region: The role of social media

Social media has seen significant adoption in the Asia-Pacific region in recent decades. This study investigates the impact of social media on women’s political empowerment in this region. Utilising a sample of 20 Asia-Pacific countries and employing a fixed-effect model, we estimate the effects of social media, with a particular focus on Facebook, on women’s political empowerment over a 13-year period, from  2009-2022. Our analysis reveals a mostly positive correlation between greater Facebook penetration and women’s political empowerment, highlighting the influential role of social media in fostering political engagement and participation among women in the Asia-Pacific region. The results indicate that policy makers should improve access to technology and internet connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas, where women may have limited access. This could involve infrastructure development and subsidising the cost of devices and internet services.