UNPACKING THE DEBATE: WHAT YOUTUBE COMMENTS REVEAL ABOUT POLITICAL EQUALITY IN AMERICA Sumrahadi, Abdullah Gurning, Agriffina Evita Martha Aryodiguno, Harryanto YouTube political engagement public opinion digital democracy social media platforms Technological advancement and political engagement have positioned social media platforms as salient forces in the contemporary political sphere. Notably, YouTube has evolved into a prominent medium, surpassing conventional media constraints and redefining political information dissemination and reception modalities. This paper investigates YouTube’s function within the United States political context, scrutinizing its influence on public opinion formation, political discourse, and democratic mechanisms. Specifically, by analyzing audience sentiment expressed in comment sections of popular news and political channels addressing socio-economic equality within the United States, this study aims to delineate the factors that modulate audience engagement with political content. By elucidating these dynamic interactions, this investigation contributes to a refined comprehension of how digital platforms, such as YouTube, construct political narratives and facilitate democratic participation. The resultant findings offer critical insights for scholarly discourse concerning digital democracy, civic engagement, and the evolving paradigm of digital political communication. Balkan University Press 2025-04-30 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Research Article application/pdf https://jlp.ibupress.com/articles/unpacking-the-debate-what-youtube-comments-reveal-about-political-equality-in-america https://doi.org/10.69648/OFBK2896 Journal of Law And Politics; Vol. 6 No. 1 (2025); 1-19 2671-342X 2671-3438 en https://jlp.ibupress.com/file/3buoYc6lJPv/ibu-journal-jlp-6-1-1.pdf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess