MODULE 3: SPECIFIC ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

NAME: Pama, Francis Dexter D.

COURSE/YEAR: BSED SCIENCE 1A

Lesson 8. The Information Age

ELICIT

Social Networks
-Facebook

-Twitter

-LinkedIn

- Dribble

Media Sharing Networks

- Instagram

- Snapchat

Bookmarking & Content Curation Networks:

- Pinterest

- Behance

- Flickr

Blogging & Publishing Networks:

- WordPress

Video hosting sites

-Vimeo

-youtube

Cloud Storage
- Dropbox
Communication
- Messenger

- telegram

- what's up

- line

- hangouts

- slack

- Viber

- messages

- Skype

- kakatalk

- hipchat

- kakaotalk

App store
- Google store

- Apple store

EXPLANATION:

These icons are sorted and identified based on their uses, features, and functions on the Internet.
For example, messenger, telegrams, what’s up, Viber, etc., are internet applications used for basic
and advanced communication. Sorting these application icons helps us identify and recognize
their uses and features on the internet.

ENGAGE
Activity 8.1 TEDTalk Reaction Report

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit organization that publishes news leaks and classified media
provided by anonymous sources. Its website stated in 2015 that it had released online 10 million
documents since beginning in 2006 in Iceland. Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist, is generally
described as its founder and director and is currently fighting extradition to the United States over his
work with WikiLeaks. Since September 2018, Kristinn Hrafnsson has served as its editor-in-chief.
Assange considers WikiLeaks a protection intermediary. Rather than leaking directly to the press, and
fearing exposure and retribution, whistleblowers can leak to WikiLeaks, which then leaks to the press for
them. The goal of the organization is "to bring important news and information to the public. One of our
most important activities is to publish original source material alongside our news stories so readers and
historians alike can see evidence of the truth. The group has released a number of prominent document
caches that exposed serious violations of human rights and civil liberties to the US and international
public, including the Collateral Murder footage from the 12 July 2007 Baghdad airstrike in which Iraqi
Reuters journalists were among several civilians killed. WikiLeaks is known for publishing leaks such as
diplomatic cables from the United States and Saudi Arabia, emails from the governments of Syria and
Turkey, corruption in Kenya, and at Samherji, a multinational fishing company based in Iceland.
WikiLeaks has also published documents exposing surveillance by the Central Intelligence Agency,
National Security Agency, and private corporations. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign,
WikiLeaks released emails from the Democratic National Committee and from Hillary Clinton's campaign
manager, showing that the party's national committee favored Clinton over her rival Bernie Sanders in the
primaries. These releases resulted in the resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the
Democratic National Committee (DNC) and caused significant harm to the Clinton campaign. They have
been cited as a possible contributing factor in Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election.
During the campaign, WikiLeaks promoted conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton, the Democratic
Party, and the murder of Seth Rich. Good information, it is believed, improves decision-making, enhances
efficiency, and provides a competitive edge to the organization which knows more than the opposition.

EXPLORE
Activity 8.2 Social Media Synopsis (Fake News)

News is one of the greatest means of communication between people and the world. In addition, they are
also a great medium of knowledge. We get our daily dose of news from newspapers early in the morning.
It is quite a reliable source that gives us information only after thoroughly investigating the information.
Though it may be interesting or even entertaining, the foremost value of news is as a utility to empower
the informed. The purpose of journalism is thus to provide citizens with the information they need to make
the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments. On
the other hand, Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news. Fake news often has the
aim of damaging the reputation of a person or entity or making money through advertising revenue. Fake
news can make a person turn away from reality, therefore making them do the wrong things. hearing a
false fact can make someone believe in it and can cause unnecessary panic or false hope depending on
the type of news. Dealing with fake news is a balancing act. On the one hand, fake news can be a serious
problem as seen currently amid the COVID-19 pandemic where harmful misinformation about the virus
has been spreading like wildfire. The accidental spread of inaccurate information makes it harder for
people to find accurate information online. It can also cause fear, panic, and hate, making difficult
situations even more challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic created an “infodemic”, an overwhelming
increase of misinformation that has made public health measures more difficult. Unreliable and false
information is spreading around the world to such an extent, that some commentators are now referring to
the new avalanche of misinformation that’s accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic as a ‘disinfodemic’.
And fears are growing that this phenomenon is putting lives at risk, prompting some with symptoms to try
unproven remedies in the hope of ‘curing’ themselves.

Why do fake news wildfires spread so quickly across the media landscape? One key factor fanning the
flames is, of course, political agendas. Fake news affects far more than politics, but it has recently
characterized that sphere of public life to a frightening degree. There have always been lying politicians
desperate to promote themselves, and propaganda is a vital tool for any totalitarian state. Yet it does feel
that there is something very different about the current political landscape. Fake news affects far more
than politics, but it has recently characterized that sphere of public life to a frightening degree. Fake news
is also driven by greed. However, fake news is not always created with an obvious agenda. Often on
social media, especially following an atrocity or disaster, it is merely careless, unverified reporting which
quickly spreads. We all have a strong psychological tendency to latch on to information that confirms
ideas we already have. In other words, our response to much of what we see within social media is
primal, not rational.
In the Philippines, knocking out fake news is like pushing back a tsunami that a Senate inquiry was called
for to help curb the proliferation of malicious and misleading information that wears the shoes that belong
to the truth. It’s hard to believe that Filipinos know fake news exists, so alarming and ubiquitous on the
world wide web. The media in the country have to constantly contend with online trolls as their articles
that do not support or agree to the powers-that-be are always tagged as “fake news”, whereas fly-by-night
and anonymously hosted websites have a great foothold on many, if not the majority, of Filipino netizens.
You ask why? Because the lure of fake news is stronger than the truth, even when certain information is
already close to the borderline of illusion and bigotry. In this case, the role of the mass media, referred to
as the fourth branch of the state as it can expose abuse of power and corruption in the Philippine
government is undermined. Authorities have arrested 32 people across the country for allegedly
spreading fake news about the coronavirus disease on social media. The Philippine National Police said
that by posting false information on COVID-19, the suspects have caused panic among people. The
accused are now facing charges of violating "Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful
Utterances” under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, the PNP said. The penalties of "arrest mayor"
or imprisonment of one month and a day to six months, and a fine ranging from ₱40,000 to ₱200,000,
shall be imposed upon "any person who by means of printing, lithography, or any other means of
publication shall publish or cause to be published as news any false news which may endanger the public
order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State,” according to Article 154. Instead, we must
resist our confirmation bias, questioning the assertions that come streaming our way. We must not
assume that ‘social proof’ proves anything. We must commit to discovering the truth, which includes doing
our best to be sure of the sources of the information which comes our way.

Key Inquiry Questions:

1. What is Fake News?
- Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news. Fake news often has the
aim of damaging the reputation of a person or entity or making money through advertising
revenue.
2. How are they made?
- fake news means content that is “intentionally and verifiably false, and [that] could mislead
readers” (Allcott and Gentzkow 2017, 213). Beyond subverting the facts, fake news also
plays another role. It is crafted to resonate with its readers. Such resonance does not arise
purely through information. Resonance can also be based on sentiment or a reader’s sense
of its truth, creating what could be called a folkloric element (Frank 2015).
3. How do they influence society?
- Fake news—news articles that are intentionally and verifiably false and designed to
manipulate people’s perceptions of reality—has been used to influence politics and promote
advertising. But it has also become a method to stir up and intensify social conflict. Stories
that are untrue and that intentionally mislead readers have caused growing mistrust among
the people. In some cases, this mistrust results in incivility, protest over imaginary events, or
violence. People, organizations, and governments—foreign governments and even our own
—use fake news for two different reasons. First, they intensify social conflict to undermine
people’s faith in the democratic process and people’s ability to work together. Second, they
distract people from important issues so that these issues remain unresolved.
4. What are the government’s efforts to address them?
- They encourage citizens to be more aware of deceiving fake news that is spreading
especially concerning the current COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens must be aware that not all
information is true and factual. The government releases a law where citizens caught
peddling fake news could be charged for violating Republic Act 10175 (Anti-Cybercrime Law)
or under Section 6 (f) of Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal As One Act), whichever is
applicable.
 5. As a student, how will you contribute to addressing this issue?
- As a student, the best way I can contribute is to help other students be aware of fake news
and misinformation. One way that could also contribute to addressing the issue is to be aware
of posting on social media.

EXPLAIN

1. What is Information Age?

- The Information Age is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century, characterized
by a rapid epochal shift from a traditional industry established by the Industrial Revolution to
an economy primarily based upon information technology. It is also known as the Computer
Age, Digital Age, or New Media Age. This era brought about a time period in which people
could access information and knowledge easily.
2. How did information change the course of science and technology development?
- The Information Age has changed people, technology, science, economies, culture, and even
the way people think. The Internet is arguably the most prominent innovation of the
Information Age. The Internet changed the way people do everything. It has made people
lazier, but it also makes a large amount of the population smarter. The Information Age has
made industrial countries stronger. With online companies being some of the most successful
and economically stimulating businesses out there, economies receive more from them and
keep our world turning. People are becoming more mature and more educated due to things
like the computer and the Internet. This time period has reshaped governments, with new
technology being created every day. Governments can now have more advanced and
effective militaries. Because of things like the Internet, new laws had to be put in place to stop
hacking, piracy, and identity theft.
3. How can information influence human society?
- It affects the life of people and changes the way they learn, think, and communicate. It plays
a major role in society, and now it is very tough to imagine life without technology. Both
technology and society are co-related, co-dependent, and co-influence with each other.
4. How does Fake News threaten the security of human society?
- Fake news spreads much faster than real news, and real people – not bots – are to blame,
according to a recent study. The term fake news does not only refer to mere counterfeit
content, but it also reaches beyond flat-out lying on mainstream media, a practice historically
present since its inception. In their midst, the intentional deception of leaders and sources
has not escaped from public affairs, on issues regarding political power, propaganda, and
ideological differences.
5. How can we address the issue of Fake News and Misinformation on the internet?
- Misinformation, the accidental spread of inaccurate information, makes it harder for people to
find accurate information online. It can also cause fear, panic, and hate, making difficult
situations even more challenging. “Misinformation can feel like an insurmountable problem,
something that only tech giants and social media platforms can solve. But actually, we can
each take steps to help stop it spreading, and these actions will have a direct impact on our
own communities, friends, and family.” – Jen Thomas, Creative Producer, Verified.
ELABORATE
Activity 8.3 Book Review

The 6th Edition: Ethics for the Information Age written by Michael J. Quinn, is a book that talks about how
technologies have brought us different benefits and raise many ethical concerns. What I like about this
book is that it opened up another view of understanding the fast growth of modern innovations and
technology which are part of the information age. Computers and high-speed communication networks
are transforming our world. These technologies have brought us many benefits, but they have also raised
many social and ethical concerns. My view is that we ought to approach every new technology in a
thoughtful manner, considering not just its short-term benefits, but also how its long-term use will affect
our lives. There is good reason to say we are living in the Information Age. Never before have so many
people had such easy access to the information. Low-cost computers and high-speed communication
networks make possible the products of the Information Age, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4. It
functions as a phone, email client, Web browser, camera, video recorder, digital compass, and more. Our
culture today is highly modernized, automated, data-driven, and technologically advanced, as
demonstrated by how easily knowledge can be transferred or exchanged. Different aspects of culture,
such as communication, economics, business, health, and the environment, have been profoundly
affected. Despite the benefits we have gained as a result of the rapid advancement of information
technology, the rapid upgrading of information often has drawbacks.

The content of the book is good, and it has opened my thoughts about the ethics of the information age.
The author’s view in Ethics for the Information Age is that we ought to approach every new technology in
a thoughtful manner, considering not just its short-term benefits, but also how its long-term use will affect
our lives.