Rissa Mikela R.

Delatore – STM25

Do you know how to use the media and technology? Do you use the Internet to
look for or gather information? If yes, then do you always do fact-checking if you
see a piece of information or news online, and if no, then do you believe
everything on the Internet? Online media, such as the Internet and social media
platforms, was the most prevalent source of false and misleading information as
most of its contents or information can manipulate users. Based on an article by
Forbes (2020), a study led by Andrew Guess of Princeton University found that
Facebook has the highest vote where users saw unreliable news sources, with over
15%.

With the Internet and social media being the most used media in our modern
society, it is crucial to be literate in using different kinds of media, technology, and
especially, in obtaining news and any types of information. Likewise, being
educated in these areas can lower the number of people falling or be victimized
by untrue and misleading information and news from unreliable sources on any
media platform. The ramping up of fake news amid the 2022 election in the
Philippines was one of the best examples of this case, where false information
about the two presidential candidates arises on social media and Internet
platforms. One of the most popular and controversial fake news was about
Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of the presidential candidate, Ferdinand
“BongBong” Marcos Jr, being a hero of our country. It is genuinely a piece of
fallacious and infuriating news, although, under his presidency, he implemented
martial law where thousands of Filipinos died because of boundless killings and
tortures.

False news and information are the biggest problem of any media, especially the
Internet and social media. Therefore, we must apply our news and information
literacies by learning to fact-check news or information before believing it. In
addition, analyzing the reliability of the source of information is a must to avoid
falling and believing in fake news. As Lasallian high school students, we must
practice living with integrity which means only upholding the truth. Thus, we
should apply and exercise our knowledge to fight against false information.

References:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2020/03/21/facebook-spreads-fake-
news-faster-than-any-other-social-website-according-to-new-
research/?sh=2559fef76e1a

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-61339293