Sample reflection paper

“Engagement & social responsibility in a “predominantly digital’ environment”

by Marianne O. Sison

The birth of social media is also the birth of a new kind of community. Social

media was defined as “internet-based, disentrained, and persistent channels of

masspersonal communication facilitating perceptions of interactions among users,

deriving value primarily from user-generated content” 1. A special kind of community that

has no boundaries as to age, sex, religion, nationality, etc. Digital media can be a threat

to global security. Digital media refers to “digitized content (text, graphics, audio, and

video) that can be transmitted over internet or computer networks” 2. Threats created by

social media through the use of digital media were misleading information that the only

expert can scrutinize and require time to be validated. Securitizing the (digital) social

media (facebook, twitter, instagram, you tube, blogs, forums) was not the expertise of

many users like me since we do not have deeper knowledge about digital media.

Digital media enable people to have easy access to information. The lecture

empowers the students to be aware of the proliferation of misleading information.

Usually, users of digital media do not know if they are reading accurate information or if

they do it means they subscribe to these websites that command a high price that only

the elite can have access.

Social media has been successfully integrated into the culture of the Filipinos.

The Philippines was an archipelago that might be a factor why gadgets especially

cellphones might be a necessity for many. Having gadgets was a way to have easy
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access to the digital media. Access to the digital media has advantages and

disadvantages. It was a disadvantage when it was used by users to communicate

messages that affect our personal and social security. Insecurities produced by social

media might be fake news, messages to commit crimes, terroristic initiatives, and black

propaganda. Security when we are informed of reliable information for learning,

precautions for calamities and crisis, prevention for possible negative events, giving

alternative road directions during traffic, an organization of group for a social and

political cause, monitoring business transactions, investigating criminals and crimes,

and staying in touch with our loved ones. The Filipinos are vulnerable to misleading

information.

Like for example searching for the topic “social media in the Philippines” for the purpose

of this reflective essay and as an application of what I have learned in the lecture, the headline

with title “Illegal Online Gambling in the Philippines thrives on Facebook” appeared to be

interesting at the same time an eye opener on how social media can be used for another illegal

purpose.3 Furthermore, thinking about Marawi Seige and media what you can found out online

was a content stating that Brig. Gen Resituto Padilla, spokesperson of AFP, statement about

the implementation of the military’s right to censorship on the ground to ensure the safety of the

people, soldiers and to protect national security 4. The statement of the military in the article was

opposed by the writer.

In addition, when you type the words Maute group and social media in the google

search engine we can found the following headlines or core messages that appear in

the site of search results: “Maute considered most social media savvy among PH
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groups aligned with ISIS”, “Military to go after people behind social media accounts
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backing Maute”, “Social media accounts ng Maute, ipinasara”, “Maute group ginamit
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ang social media bilang propaganda”. This shows two things, the used of social media

by terrorist to operate in the Philippines that affected the human security of the people.

Secondly, an empowered user will question the credibility of the producer of the content,

but what can an ordinary citizen do with this information, to believe that somehow they

are true.

“Criminals, terrorists, and rioters are using social media to amplify their voices,

recruit, and plan their operations”5. In the post with the title “Maute, military supporters

in Marawi wage different kind of war on social” 6 the content contains a statement

coming from Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera Army’s Infantry Division saying that facebook

accounts were being used by Maute group to spread false information against the

military operations. The post also confirms an instruction to facebook Philippines to

takedown 63 fake accounts that were believed to be the supporters and sympathizers of

Maute.

Using four references and an article with content about the Philippine military’s

instructions on closing selected facebook accounts used by Maute group supporters

and might be convincing enough to believe that the use of social media by the terrorist

was true. The next securitization question was the credibility of the producers which I

might admit I cannot assure due to my lack of expertise in digital media. Others do not

have time to triangulate the information.

Hossain, (2016) defined the concepts human security as freedom from fear and freedom

from want while security was the pursuit of freedom from threats 7. Security was an “emphasis
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on authority, the confronting – and construction – of threats and enemies, an ability to make
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decisions, and the adoption of emergency measures8. Social security is about individual
 Montalbo E.E. Human Security Reflective Paper

security. As a social security measure in the digital media, the government cannot

intrude the right of the people in securing their emails and other content of the internet

that they read because that will be a violation of personal security. For this reason,

promoting national interest in the social media and the use of digital media has been a

challenge nowadays.

Moreover, digital media seems to have an added value for crime investigations

and resolving crimes. Philippine National Police (PNP) website utilizes face book and tweeter

applications because on their website we can found the directory of all the regions and beside it

was face book and tweeter icon. The webpage looks like suggesting visitor that upon clicking on

these icons you will be connected to the PNP9. From this, we can say that if social media is

giving bad implications, it will be restricted to people but since people continuously use

it; it might mean it strengthen development. It empowered people more than it divested

people lives.

Securitization theory in Hossain (2016) work was “an extreme version of

politicization which enables the use of extraordinary means. It is based on the idea of

social constructivism; an actor defines an issue as an existential threat to the survival of

an object, making the issue as an element which requires a particular action” 10.

Securitization more importantly in digital media was a hard task for both the state and

the people to do. This is due to the lack of control mechanisms. Currently there might

be no way to control the content of the social media messages due to freedom of

expression and privacy. Then, adopting Real-Time Intelligence for Operational

Deployment (RIOD) seems expensive for the Philippines to avail.

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Citizens political responsibility to the government as an engagement and

social responsibility in a “predominantly digital” environment may mean

reporting accurate information of crimes, illegal activities, and crisis situation to

the authorities. Every credibly reported crimes and illegal activities to authorities

can save lives and will promote national security.

Social responsibility in the predominant digital environment means taking time to

assess the sources of information that we are using for all our communications. If our

companies have the resources, social responsibility in access to credible sources was a

good move to secure the people.

People can avoid websites or post that were allegedly been considered as not

credible sources. To be selective in using information, it must be from a credible agency

so that it will be reliable. It will always be better to triangulate information from different

sources. All-important information’s like those things that will endanger our security

must be verified in different ways. Face to face communications is still the best way.

Moreover, if the social media was used to spread propaganda, why not use

social media as an investigative platform where a list of not credible sites can be viewed

by the public and where the government and the people can easily interact. Obviously,

the citizen’s political responsibility to digital media can be to voice out the need for a

public policy that will regulate the proliferation of fake news or information. The creation

of a control mechanism that will filter fake information or the creation of an institution

that will help filter and block inconspicuous not credible information. This issues of
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manipulated use of social media will continue without proper regulations, of-course
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coming from the government. The government has the responsibility to protect the

citizens especially the marginalized and the vulnerable in accessing the right

information and sources. But how will the government do this without violating the

freedom of expressions or human rights? A policy in navigating on virtual reality can be

done. Looking into and assessing the models done by China, British, and New Zealand

government can be a good start.

Let us create and develop “another virtual community” where people can only

post credible information. The “another virtual community” that filter and safeguard the

users and producers of messages. Information’s posted on social media must be

approved first by an authorized approving authority or a virtual administrator. This might

be an impossible idea for now but even social media is still new. The creator of social

media must also know and be socially responsible on how to limit and safeguard the

public.

Criminals involved in a virtual community might be technically expert in

computers and digital media for this reason selected law enforcement officers must also

be proficient in the same areas.

The academe can develop a digital environment securitization agenda that will

discuss the issue of fake news and other misinformation in the digital media. As of this

time, securitization in social media was not yet been mentioned in any literature I had
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read. Experts in different disciplines can assess and discuss the implications of fake
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news and other propaganda that has been posted in the social media for the benefit of

global the community.

Conclusion

Engagement & social responsibility in a “predominantly digital’ environment” needs

attention in today’s global environment. The students became aware and empowered to

the new problem on human security like the issues on securitization of the social and

digital media. They are challenging for the state and the people due to the right to

freedom of expressions, identity, and privacy.

The use of digital and social media was highly recognized and patronized in the

Philippines due to its geographical characteristics as a country. Digital and social media

enable the Filipinos to be a global learner. More importantly, a means to stay in touch

with our loved one.

However, the success of terrorist group like “Maute” in using social media to

implicate the risk of the people’s human security might mean a need for censorship in

social media as a preemptive measure just like what was practice in China and Real-

Time Intelligence for Operational Deployment (RIOD) used by the New Zealand police.

But the Filipinos are supporters of democracy and might not agree on this censorship

for securitization and national security.

End Notes:
1
Caleb T. Carr & Rebecca A. Hayes ( 2015 ). Social Media: Defining, Developing,
and Divining. Atlantic Journal of Communication. 23:1, 46-65.
2
(2017) “Digital Media” Accessed: November 13, 2017 Retrieved
from:http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/digital-media.html
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3
Lamiel C. (2017) “Illegal Online Gambling in the Philippines thrives on Facebook”
Accessed: November 12, 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.yugatech.com/news/illegal-online-
gambling-in-the-philippines-thrives-on-facebook/#mudwIm1xKtV252aB.99

Teodoro Luis (2017) “Oppose threats of media censorship” Accessed: November

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12, 2017. AlterMidya, Retrieved from: http://altermidya.net/oppose-threats-media-

censorship/.
5
Gupta R.(2013). Using Social Media for Global Security. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hugh
Books.
6
Allan Nawal ( 2017) “Maute, military supporters in Marawi wage different kind of
war on social. Accessed: June 12, 2017 media”
http://technology.inquirer.net/63836/maute-military-supporters-marawi-wage-different-
kind-war-social-media.
7
Hossain K. (2016). Securitizing the Arctic indigenous peoples: A community security
perspective with special reference to the Sami of the European high north. Polar Science.
Vol.10 215-424.
8
Hansen L and Nissenbaum (2009). Digital Disaster, Cyber security, and the
Copenhagen School”. International Studies Quarterly.Vol.53. No.4. 1153-1175.
9
(2017) “PNP Social Media Directory” Accessed: November 12, 2017. Retrieved from:
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/news-and-information/social-media-directory
10.
Hossain (2016).
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